VENEZUELA - AUGUST 2020 Situation Report Last updated: 14 Oct 2020

HIGHLIGHTS (28 Nov 2020)

As of 11 October, Venezuela reported 83,137 cases of COVID-19 and 697 deaths, as well as 74,664 recovered cases. Most affected states: Capital District, Miranda, Zulia and Apure.

While there is a decrease in the number of people returning, new informal movements to cross the border are taking place at the same time.

From mid-March to October, it is estimated that over 120,000 people have returned to Venezuela.

In several states, constraints on sustained access to basic services such as water, electricity, gas, fuel and July 2020. Guasdualito, Apure, Venezuela. Returnees telecommunications continue to be reported. queuing for medical consultation. OCHA/Cortes

Due to heavy rains, rivers have overflowed and triggered flooding in communities in the states of Aragua, Portuguesa and Bolivar, among others.

KEY FIGURES FUNDING CONTACTS

Naomi Frerotte 3.3M 2.4M $762,5M $146M Public Information Officer Reached with Reached with COVID- Required in 2020 Received in 2020 [email protected] assistance as of 19 aid as of August August Samir Elhawary Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator/Head of Office 238 [email protected] HRP projects

BACKGROUND (28 Nov 2020)

Situation Overview

As of 11 October, Venezuelan authorities confirmed 83,137 COVID-19 cases and 697 deaths, as well as 74,664 recovered cases. The number of community transmission cases continued to exceed confirmed cases in returnees. As of 11 October, authorities had confirmed 9,286 cases among returnees (11 per cent of the total number of cases).

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At the national level, due to the increase in community transmission cases in several areas, national and regional authorities have established additional shelter spaces in hotels, sports and convention centers and sports villas to temporarily accommodate asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic people diagnosed with COVID-19.

The most affected areas by COVID-19 have been Caracas and the states of Miranda and La Guaira in the Capital Region, and the states of Zulia, Apure, Tachira and Aragua. However, the rate of cases at the border has continued to decline, in part due to the lower proportion of confirmed cases among returnees.

With the increase of COVID-19 cases and deaths among health workers in the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) issued an alert to Member States calling to strengthen the capacities of health services at all levels and to provide health professionals with resources and training to ensure an adequate and timely response to the pandemic.

The flow of returnees continues, although to a lesser extent. According to recent reports, Venezuelans were once again leaving the country resorting to irregular crossings, attracted in part by the relaxation of quarantine measures in neighboring countries. From mid-March to 12 October, it was estimated that more than 120,000 returnees had entered the country, mostly through the state of Tachira. The temporary shelter spaces known as PASI continued to provide services for returnees to let them complete their 14-day minimum quarantine before transferring them to to their final destinations in other parts of the country. Previously, in the state of Apure, returnees had to wait for a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test before they could leave. However, in late September, the protocols were revised to allow returnees to continue to their final destination if they had a negative rapid test and completed 10-14 days of quarantine.

Since 13 March, the Government has consecutively extended the State of Emergency and quarantine measures every month. The National Institute of Civil Aviation extended the restriction on air operations throughout the country from 12 October to 12 November, excluding cargo, humanitarian, repatriation, postal or UN-authorized flights. In line with situation assessments for different geographic areas, authorities have continued to implement a three-level quarantine/relaxation modality, ranging from radical quarantine to the phased reopening of some sectors by alternating seven days of activity with seven days of quarantine.

Fuel shortages continued in most parts of the country despite efforts to increase production at two refineries. Limitations on fuel supply have negatively affected the provision of services in priority sectors and the broader humanitarian response.

Several states in the country continued reporting limitations on regular access to water, electricity, gas and telecommunications services. In several states, there have been reports of frequent power shortages and problems with the distribution of gas, leading to a higher number of people resorting to biomass and firewood for cooking, despite the risk of respiratory-related diseases.

The COVID-19 socioeconomic impacts have increased concerns about growing humanitarian needs in Venezuela and across the region. The pandemic has affected many businesses in country, with a significant impact on production and employment. The minimum wage of 800,000 Bolivars, which at the official exchange rate of the Central Bank, was equivalent to approximately US$1.8 per month. According to the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), the accumulated inflation for 2020 (January-September) was 844.1 per cent.

Due to the rainy season, rivers have overflowed and communities have flooded in several states across the country. The most affected communities were in the municipalities of Girardot and Mariño in Aragua state, Guanare in Portuguesa state and Upata and Santa Elena de Uairen in Bolivar state. The floods have also affected families in the states of Cojedes, Merida, Nueva Esparta and Zulia. Between 9 and 15 September, floods due to the overflowing of the Limon River affected around 300 families in Aragua state. The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (INAMEH) and Civil Protection monitored the situation and local authorities, with support from the national Government, initiated the response. Priority activities included the re-establishment of water and electricity services and debris removal to clear the roads. https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/venezuela-bolivarian-republic-of/ Page 2 of 15 Downloaded: 30 Nov 2020 VENEZUELA - AUGUST 2020 Situation Report Last updated: 14 Oct 2020

VISUAL (13 Oct 2020)

5W - Operational Humanitarian Presence

ANALYSIS (28 Nov 2020)

Funding

According to the Financial Tracking Service (FTS), as of 14 October, the funding received for the humanitarian response was $146 million, $67.7 million within the Humanitarian Response Plan with Humanitarian Needs Overview 2020, including funds for the UN, international and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Agencies and countries contributing to humanitarian activities included: the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, United Nations Central Emergency Fund (CERF), Canada, Germany and others.

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CLUSTER STATUS (28 Nov 2020)

Health

121,304 People received medical supplies in August

Needs

Communicable diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, measles and rubella require intersectoral and multidisciplinary strategies to increase prevention measures (including vaccination campaigns for immune-preventable diseases) and response activities to avoid putting additional pressure on the health system, focused on the COVID-19 response.

- Dengue: As of 29 August, 5,039 cases of dengue were reported, for an incidence rate of 15.56 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. There was a 44.8 per cent decrease in reported cases (9,124) and a 17 per cent increase in the fatality rate compared to the same period in 2019. Early identification and high risk case management are critical to minimize hospitalizations. - Zika: As of 29 August, there were 19 cumulative probable cases, a decrease of 64.8 per cent compared to the same period in 2019 (54 cases). According to the Ministry of Popular Power for Health (MPPS), as of 11 July, seven samples had been processed, all of them negative.

- Chikungunya: As of 29 August, there were 46 cumulative probable cases, a decrease of 61 per cent compared to the same period in 2019 (118 cases). According to the MPPS, as of 11 July, 30 samples had been processed, 2 of which were positive (6.67 per cent).

- Measles and rubella: As of 29 August, there were 503 suspected cases with zero confirmed cases. There were 13,092 reporting units for these pathologies, with 39 per cent of cases following adequate investigations and with 86 per cent adequate blood samples to conduct case studies.

From 13 March to 11 October, 83,137 PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported, which represented an incidence rate of 286 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. To date, 697 deaths have been reported, representing a mortality rate of 24 deaths per million inhabitants and a lethality rate of 0.83 per cent, one of the lowest in the region. About 88 per cent of

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confirmed cases were the result of community transmission (73,286 cases) and 11.8 per cent were imported (9,851 cases). A comparison of the total number of reported cases as of 2 June (18,574 cases) with cases reported as of 11 October (83,137 cases) showed an increase of 347.5 per cent.

As of 2 August, 179 positive COVID-19 cases were confirmed among the indigenous population, including three deaths. A total of 68.5 per cent of the cases were reported in Bolivar state (123 cases) and the rest in Zulia state (43 cases, 2 deaths), Amazonas state (12 cases) and Delta Amacuro state (1 death). The most affected indigenous groups are the Pemon and Wayu.

It is critical to increase PCR diagnostic tests among the population (including health workers and at-risk groups such as migrants and indigenous people); to continue the reorganization of health services to manage the impact of increased cases and deaths, possibly linked to underreporting of cases and delays in surveillance and contact tracing. The provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers in health facilities, PASIs, home visit workers, etc. should be ensured to prevent transmissions.

Response

At the Luis Razetti Hospital in Delta Amacuro, 215 people benefited from delivery and distribution of information material on COVID-19 and PPE delivery to maternal and child health personnel, including for infection prevention and control among people from indigenous groups.

At the University Hospital of Maracaibo in Zulia, PAHO distributed 226,800 masks, 36,480 medical masks for respirators, 24,840 full-face masks, 1,560 biosafety lenses and 3,780 gowns.

In August, Health Cluster partners organized virtual and in-person trainings on critical health issues for 162 health workers in the Capital District, Anzoátegui and Miranda, integrating age, gender and diversity considerations in their approach. In addition, 1,817 health workers in Apure, Barinas, Carabobo, Delta Amacuro, Capital District, Miranda, Sucre and Zulia were trained on COVID-19 response, and 40 health workers in Zulia were trained on clinical management of sexual violence cases.

Health Cluster partners provided equipment, supplies and medicines, including for sexual and reproductive health, benefiting 121,304 people in 21 outpatient clinics, 12 community clinics, 6 maternity hospitals and 21 hospitals across 8 states. In the context of COVID-19, 30,748 people benefited from these provisions in 19 health facilities, 53 integrated community health areas (ASIC), 62 communities and 2 laboratories in 19 states with high rates of confirmed COVID-19 cases, including Apure, Amazonas, Bolivar, Capital District, Miranda, Tachira, Yaracuy and Zulia.

Actions were implemented to strengthen preparedness, response and recovery capacity in health emergency situations to treat 828 people in health facilities in Miranda state. In the context of COVID-19, in two outpatient clinics and 3 health facilities in Miranda and Bolivar were supported to improve assistance for 8,910 people.

Health Cluster partners have provided assistance to 16,092 vulnerable people (children, adolescents, pregnant women, indigenous people, people with disabilities, etc.) in health facilities and one PASI in 10 states and 3,016 people as part of the COVID-19 response in Apure, Miranda and Bolivar.

Community interventions to strengthen capacities for disease prevention, sexual and reproductive health promotion, delivery of contraceptive methods and COVID-19 prevention took place in health facilities, communities and PASIs in 6 states, reaching 13,677 people.

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PAHO/WHO reported that 170,000 antigen test kits were expected to arrive and increase diagnostics capacity (at the time 4,500 PCR tests were performed daily). PPE, financed through released U.S. funds, were also expected to arrive in October. Drugs and medical equipment would take longer due to procurement challenges.

Gaps

For the COVID-19 response, the following actions were needed: monitoring priority populations such as health workers and indigenous populations; monitoring health services capacity for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 programmes; tracking progress to decentralize PCR testing capacity; and ensuring the timely and adequate provision of PPE for health care personnel.

Early detection, timely response and epidemiological surveillance of vector-borne diseases should be maintained, especially among vulnerable groups (pregnant women, indigenous people, etc.).

Critical health data and information should be managed properly to facilitate proper assessments and guide the support provided to health facilities in country.

CLUSTER STATUS (28 Nov 2020)

Nutrition

6,989 Children reached in August

Needs

Based on the anthropometric measurements carried out in July on children under age 5, the reported global acute malnutrition rate was 4 per cent, moderate acute malnutrition was 3.2 per cent and 0.8 per cent for severe acute malnutrition. A total of 352 children under age 5 were diagnosed with anaemia out of a total of 971 screened. All received treatment.

In August, partners reported the need to acquire malnutrition detection equipment, in line with COVID-19 implementation guidelines and personal protection protocols, to provide continuity in nutrition services given that conventional screening techniques require direct contact with patients.

The condition of anaemia among pregnant and lactating women continues: In July, out of the 668 women screened, 25.8 per cent were diagnosed with mild anaemia and 30.8 per cent with severe anaemia.

Response

Health Cluster partners provided PPE in assistance centers and contributed to improving access for outpatient health services and community-based nutrition programmes for children under age 5. In August, 6,989 children under age 5 were screened for prevention and detection of micronutrient deficiency and acute malnutrition, an increase of nearly 50 per cent compared to the previous month.

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Some 5,000 children under age 5 received micronutrients in 12 states as part of the strategy to prevent malnutrition.

A total of 195 children under age 5 received nutritional services for the treatment of acute malnutrition at assistance centres in 10 states.

A total of 8,442 children under age 5 and 1,059 pregnant and lactating women were treated for intestinal parasitosis at assistance centers.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) provided technical support to train about 700 health workers and community personnel on acute malnutrition management in the context of COVID-19 and on Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices in Emergencies (IYCF-E), integrating key health, food security, and water, sanitation and hygiene practices into training sessions.

Gaps

Lack of recommended nutritional supplies for the treatment of acute malnutrition, given the low funding of the cluster and procurement challenges, has created challenges in providing adequate nutritional care once cases of acute malnutrition have been detected; access to local therapeutic products is scarce or non-existent.

Access to indigenous communities remained limited, reinforcing the importance of identifying the nutritional needs of this population as soon as possible.

Persistent fuel shortages made it difficult to mobilize health professionals for home follow-up activities and to transfer patients to health care facilities.

Partners have increased nutritional care for returnees at PASIs in the last few months. This was a positive step to identify and address needs among populations on the move.

CLUSTER STATUS (28 Nov 2020)

Protection

182,731 People reached by services in August

Needs

Quarantine measures for the prevention of COVID-19 have led to a reduction of response services, including those targeting people affected by gender-based violence (GBV), trafficking and smuggling and the protection of Unaccompanied Children (UC), among others. Service providers should implement strategies to care for frontline staff, who work long hours facing technological limitations to provide a remote response and have reported increased stress and emotional burnout.

The protective environment in Venezuela remains weak. Many vulnerable groups still require protection and assistance to avoid physical and mental harm and to ensure access to basic social and protective services, including for Venezuelan returnees in quarantine in PASIs. The movement of people across borders during the official closure of borders has

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increased protection risks, especially for those who transit through informal trails to evade migration and/or health controls, including particular risks of sexual abuse or exploitation and/or trafficking that affect mostly women, adolescents and girls.

More efforts are needed to strengthen the protective environment for indigenous communities in Venezuela. Due to limited access to basic services such as health, food, water and sanitation, livelihoods and documentation, indigenous people have been one of the most vulnerable populations in Venezuela. It is necessary to continue to strengthen the referral routes to reach specialized services and humanitarian assistance in indigenous communities, including the implementation of key information messages and campaigns in indigenous languages, and to strengthen coordination between competent authorities on indigenous matters, UN agencies and civil society organisations.

Response

In August, Cluster partners reached 182,731 women, men and UC. Assistance was provided throughout the country, with activities carried out in all 23 states and the Capital District. The states with the highest number of people reached were Miranda (56,567), Bolivar (55,310), Zulia (14,106), Apure (8,418) and the Capital District (7,452).

A total of 679 at-risk adults and elderly people were reached with specialized services, including legal assistance (394) and individual psychosocial care (285). In addition, 23 at-risk adults and children benefited from access to legal and birth documentation.

A total of 1,344 people with specific assistance needs were reached. Interventions increase the capacities of 9,587 people from communities and institutions to prevent and mitigate protection risks. Moreover, 4,338 people benefited from the strengthening of state institutions in Apure (the municipalities of Paez and San Fernando de Apure) and Zulia (Civil Protection) through the provision of material assistance to contribute to the provision of services that ensure the rights of people with specific needs in those states.

A total of 1,133 girls, adolescents and adult women accessed GBV response services, including case management services (277), legal support (25) and individual psychosocial assistance (831). A total of 14,595 children, adolescents and adults benefited from GBV prevention activities, such as the establishment of safe spaces or the delivery of dignity kits, which reached 796 girls and adult women in communities across Zulia, Miranda, Bolivar, Tachira and Apure, including in nine PASIs. In addition,9,674 people received training on GBV prevention and mitigation, including 289 civil servants from state institutions, strengthening their capacity to respond to GBV.

A total of 19,368 unaccompanied children (UC), most of them between 12 and 17 years old, and their caregivers benefited from access to individual and group psychosocial support activities. In addition, 38,594 UC under 3 months old had access to birth certificates in hospitals (of these 755 were civil birth registrations) and 7,895 affected and at-risk UC were able to access administrative services and child protection programmes. A total of 83,888 people from priority communities were trained in UC protection issues (including the Guía Protege) and 712 people from state institutions with responsibility for UC and members of NGOs were given training in preventing and responding to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of children.

Gaps

Despite the significant protection needs identified in Tachira state, which receives the largest number of returnees among states across the entire country, the response of the Protection Cluster partners in August reached 7,333 people.

Ensuring access for humanitarian actors specialised in GBV to PASIs to provide comprehensive GBV services remains a priority. It is essential to ensure access to perinatal care services for pregnant women in public health centres, especially safe delivery and postpartum care, as well as distribution of essential Sexual and Reproductive Health Commodities (SRH). There have been bottlenecks associated with mobility restrictions due to quarantine measures, especially during the weeks

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of radical quarantine. Due to the irregular provision of public services and fuel shortages, active response modalities remain to disseminate information include social networks, text messaging and other alternative methods of communication about available remote services.

It is necessary to maintain, deepen and extend efforts to strengthen the institutional capacity and quality of the response in the care and protection of UC with a multi-sectoral perspective.

CLUSTER STATUS (28 Nov 2020)

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

413,660 People reached in August

Needs

The increase in the number of COVID-19 positive cases has exacerbated the pressure on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, including in PASIs, health facilities and communities, where adequate prevention measures require greater support for WASH services.

Response

In August, 14 members of the Cluster reported 413,660 people served in 41 municipalities in 9 states. During 2020, the sectoral response includes contributions from 36 organisations that have assisted 2,650,480 people in 130 municipalities in 22 states across the country.

In August, 75 health centres received support in WASH mainly for rehabilitation of water points/water supply (53), training (19) and/or the rehabilitation of health infrastructure (17). Since the beginning of the year, WASH interventions or supplies have been reported to benefit 163 health facilities.

In August, WASH assistance reached about 130 protection or educational centres, mainly in the provision of hygiene inputs (93) and training activities (24), as well as interventions to ensure safe water and sanitation, bringing the total number of protection and education centres that have benefited from WASH interventions or supplies to approximately 890 since the beginning of the year.

In August, 252,450 people in 140 communities benefited from WASH interventions, most of them in Bolivar (98,245), Delta Amacuro (75,000), Zulia (50,185) and Miranda (23,810). This brings the total number of people in communities supported between January and August to 1,993,555 in 915 communities, mainly in Tachira (1,197,270), Miranda (282,470), Bolivar (208,680) and Delta Amacuro (150,215).

Gaps

In health facilities, there have been reports of shortages in cleaning and disinfection products as well as infectious waste disposal mechanisms. Planned activities need to be complemented to ensure complete WASH/Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) packages in a larger number of health facilities.

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WASH needs in the PASIs have grown with the increase in returnees. However, response capacity continues to be affected by gaps in the availability of financial resources.

COVID-19 prevention and quarantine measures have restricted the possibilities and time frames for training as well as the implementation and distribution of inputs by organizations providing assistance. Lack of access to fuel affects the entire production and service supply chain and there have been some NGOs with resources to provide support that still require permits or safe conduct to assist in the response.

CLUSTER STATUS (28 Nov 2020)

Food Security

29,200 People reached in August

Needs

Returnees require nutritional assistance and support. Not only is it necessary to support them in PASIs with direct food assistance, but also through support initiatives that contribute to improving the food security situation of returnees in host communities.

The agricultural private sector has reported that 120,000 production units and 90,000 producers have been significantly affected by shortages, resulting in a decline in food accessibility.

The Caritas Sentinel Monitoring of Acute Malnutrition and Household Food Security analysed the increase in the cost of the basic food basket (BFP) from April to July 2020, with maximum increases peaking at 51 percent per month. It is estimated that the food purchasing power of the official minimum wage ($1.4) would only cover 0.8 percent of the cost of the BFB. More than half of the households surveyed had reduced their food consumption in some way.

Response

In August, 29,200 people benefited from food security activities, including food distribution and production in 30 municipalities in 12 states.

The main activities reported by the Cluster partners were:

Distribution of supplementary food in educational institutions, community centres and health facilities; support for the production and distribution of nutritionally fortified food for people with specific needs; and distribution of food to vulnerable people, with particular attention to women and girls at risk, and families with children under 5 with acute malnutrition.

Provision of seeds, tools, small equipment, animals and technical assistance for food production to meet immediate needs, with special attention to female-headed households (FHHs).

Assistance through cash transfers or vouchers to vulnerable households, with a focus on FHHs.

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Technical strengthening and equipment for public institutions and local organizations that implement food and nutrition security activities, feasibility analysis for intervention modalities, and training in various trades that support food production, planting and the acquisition of life skills.

Gaps

The response capacity of the Cluster needs to be strengthened and more resources mobilized to respond in line with the scale of needs.

Cash transfer or voucher assistance (CBT/TM) modalities could be an effective mechanism for responding to emergency food needs once the fiscal conditions and legal framework for this type of assistance are clarified.

Fuel shortages in some states of the country continue to impact agricultural and livestock guilds who express concern about the consequences of not being able to use the necessary machinery and equipment for food production, as well as the transport of food from the states of Apure, Barinas, Lara, Tachira and Zulia.

CLUSTER STATUS (28 Nov 2020)

Education

23,037 Received school meals in August

Needs

The transition from traditional on-site education to remote learning has been a challenge for all stakeholders and the entire education system. Conditions for educational continuity during pre-emptive school closures are adverse, including reduced access to connectivity, limited technological availability and intermittent electrical services. These circumstances have disproportionately affected the most vulnerable UC, such as those with disabilities, indigenous people and UC in hospitals.

Cluster partners warned that the closure of schools due to COVID-19 has increased risks for UC, including mental health effects, psychosocial support needs, and domestic and gender-based violence.

Response

In July, with the aim of improving the conditions for learning and educational continuity of children and adolescents in schools, the distribution of educational materials in individual format continued at the household level, reaching a total of 4,610 children and adolescents (47 per cent girls and 53 per cent boys), especially in the states of Miranda and Zulia. In addition, 23,037 children and adolescents (51 per cent girls and 49 per cent boys) benefited from dry food distribution, or at the household level, with support from school feeding programmes, most of them in Miranda and Zulia.

A total of 2,657 adolescents and young people (52 per cent girls and 48 per cent boys) participated in initiatives aimed at promoting educational attainment, life skills and technical training through remote methods, largely in Miranda and Zulia. A total of 17,491 children and adolescents were reached through the implementation of psycho-educational support activities online, by telephone or through home visits (50 per cent girls and 50 per cent boys) in Bolivar and Zulia.

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A total of 103 teachers (19 per cent women and 81 per cent men) were trained virtually on emergency education approaches, focused mainly in Bolivar and Zulia.

One of the new activities incorporated in the response to COVID-19 was distance education using multi-platform resources (television, radio, virtual, print) for UC affected by school closures. During this period, 8,544 students were reached, mostly in Bolivar and Zulia.

July saw the highest number of key message promotions for the school community, with 4,641,751 messages broadcast on the radio (reaching 50 per cent girls and 50 per cent boys), especially in Miranda and Zulia, while 4,442 participated in recreational activities (55 per cent girls and 45 per cent boys) in the Capital District and Zulia.

A total of 3,961 out-of-school children and adolescents (45 per cent girls and 55 per cent boys) were reached by educational reintegration initiatives in Miranda and Zulia. Scholarships and other incentives for teachers and staff were also provided to 1,755 people (21 per cent women and 79 per cent men) especially in Bolivar and Zulia.

Gaps

The limited funding to the sector aggravates the situation and puts continuity of interventions at risk, especially for local and community-based organizations that do not have support through international cooperation. For instance, in relation to initiatives to reintegrate UC into education outside of school, the gap stands at 96 per cent. Activities with adolescents and young people on life skills, technical training and psycho-educational support for UC do not exceed 10 per cent of the population reached. In the distribution of school kits, the gap is 85 per cent and in school feeding 64 per cent have yet to be reached.

Despite the continued efforts of national authorities and support from Cluster partners to make distance learning available through multiple platforms , access remains uneven across different states, which is exacerbated by the lack of international funding for sustainable sources of internet access, improved electricity service and technological investment in remote communities.

Support from the education sector for the reception and inclusion of returnee populations is underfunded.

It is critical that schools currently used as PASIs resume their operations as schools.

CLUSTER STATUS (28 Nov 2020)

Shelter, Energy and Non-Food Items (NFIs)

17,896 Reached by assistance in August

Needs

During August, there were reports of limited access to basic services (such as electricity, domestic gas and water, among others) in some PASIs in the border municipalities of the states of Zulia, Apure, Tachira and Bolivar, and insufficient non- food items (NFI) for the Venezuelan returnees, such as hygiene items and equipment to allow for safe accommodation and

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overnight stays. Specifically, the PASIs located in Guasdualito, in Apure State, and in the border area of La Guajira, in Zulia State, were affected by limited access to energy due to power cuts, which in turn affect other services such as water and sanitation, and make it harder to safely preserve food.

Continuous rainfall in the state of Apure has affected communities located on the banks of the Arauca River on the Colombia-Venezuela border, such as the community of La Esperanza, lost their homes and basic belongings due to flooding. They have temporarily relocated to nearby areas that are not prone to flooding.

The distribution of basic items (such as solar lamps, blankets, mats, mosquito nets, among others) remains a priority in communities receiving returnees going back to their places of origin and due to limited access to basic services as a result of preventive quarantine measures. In the states of Apure, Zulia, Bolivar and Amazonas during the rainy season, mosquito nets are needed as protection against increasedvectors of diseases such as dengue, Zika or malaria.

Response

During August, 17,896 people (56 per cent women and 44 per cent men) were reached with improved access to safe housing, energy and/or NFI in seven states of the country, with the highest number of people reached in Zulia (10,539), Bolivar (3,276) and Apure (1,993). Despite its limited scope, the month of August still saw the greatest response in the state of Amazonas, reaching 1,475 people. The main focus was on the COVID-19, while other interventions focused on people with specific needs in priority communities, with special attention given to gender, age and diversity.

Activities were implemented in four PASIs in Zulia, reaching 5,616 people, including returned Venezuelans. The Carmen Ferrer Ortiz PASI (municipality of Guajira) was upgraded and expanded to accommodate 300 people and received basic equipment (52 kitchen kits), including aluminium pots (5 and 7 litres), steel plates, glasses and cutlery in each kit. In the PASI of Villa Deportiva (municipality of Maracaibo), 44 kitchen kits were distributed with the same content as those distributed in the PASI Carmen Ferrer Ortiz. Also, in Paraguachon, along the Colombian-Venezuelan border area of the Guajira municipality, 18 prefabricated shelter units, known as Refugee Housing Unit (RHUs), were installed. These units have increased the total reception capacity of this PASIC to 1,560 beneficiaries, mainly returned Venezuelans, until the end of the year.

The activities in community and institutional spaces and centres, including health centres, were carried out in the states of Apure and Zulia, reaching 5,643 people. In Apure, 38 RHUs were installed in PDVSA's La Periquera hospital (in the municipality of Paez), serving also to accommodate returnees, expanding its capacity to 1,000 people by the end of the year. In addition, the Guasdualito Council for the Protection of children and adolescents in Paez was provided with equipment (synthetic blankets and fans). In the municipality of Maracaibo, in Zulia state, the Autonomous Service of the University Hospital of Maracaibo was provided with equipment, including surgical mattresses, cleaning and hygiene materials, with a coverage for 134 people. In addition, six community spaces in the municipality of Simon Bolivar (Zulia State) were equipped with buckets and solar lamps, to assist 4,500 people.

The activities in priority communities reached 6,637 vulnerable people in the states of Miranda, Apure, Amazonas, Bolivar and Zulia. These activities included the delivery of 2,242 solar lamps (benefiting 4,015 people), the distribution of NFI as well as shelter kits to people on the move, reaching 2,462 people. Training was also provided on safe housing for 160 people from the Marewa indigenous community in Zulia state.

Gaps

In August, the general lack of access to fuel throughout the country has limited the operations of the cluster's partner organizations to implement activities in the field. In addition, fuel supply presents a challenge to transporting returnees from PASIs to their places of origin. The lack of funding for most of cluster partner organizations considerably limits the capacity to implement activities in the field. https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/venezuela-bolivarian-republic-of/ Page 13 of 15 Downloaded: 30 Nov 2020 VENEZUELA - AUGUST 2020 Situation Report Last updated: 14 Oct 2020

Delays in the delivery of PCR test results to returnees in the PASIs makes it difficult to quickly identify positive cases of COVID-19, leading to prolonged stays in these temporary accommodation spaces and increased demands for services and assistance.

CLUSTER STATUS (28 Nov 2020)

Logistics

Needs

With quarantine measures implemented due to COVID-19, humanitarian actors continue facing access challenges that affect project implementation. Organizations need support to obtain permits that facilitate deliveries, field activities, and fuel supply in their areas of operation.

Response

The Cluster continues its coordination and support for information management, regular updates and information about logistics capacity and access restrictions. This includes the development of guidelines and mechanisms within the framework of the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan (GHRP).

The Cluster supported the compilation and dissemination of information for repatriation flights organized by embassies and humanitarian flights organized by the World Food Programme to Venezuela from the operational hub in Panama.

The Cluster, through media channels, such as group communications and mailing lists, facilitates the exchange of practical logistics information between partners.

Gaps

Disruptions in the global supply chain, including restrictions on air and sea traffic as well as border closures, continue to impact on the ability to procure inputs on a global scale. Common efforts have been made to activate shared transport services and an inter-agency system of prioritisation for the purchase of critical inputs within the COVID-19 GHRP.

The possibilities for transporting humanitarian supplies were limited during the last reporting period. Humanitarian organisations are facing a shortage of supply to transport and import the inputs needed for their programmes.

The closure of airspaces and borders has made it more difficult for entry and exit of international NGO humanitarian workers, affecting the development of their programmes and the effectiveness of their response to the epidemic.

COORDINATION (28 Nov 2020)

Coordination

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Field Coordination Hubs liaise with local authorities and partners to support needs assessments, response implementation and training on temporary accommodation management issues, as well as advocacy on logistics and access issues.

As part of the capacity building activities of national organisations, OCHA and several members of the coordination structures supported a Distance Learning Lecture Series on Humanitarian Architecture organised by humanitarian partners for more than 30 local organisations.

The National Humanitarian Action Platform (PAHNAL) made up of national NGOs, held its first meeting with representatives of the main donor countries in Venezuela, where progress and challenges facing the humanitarian response were addressed and information on the funding of the Humanitarian Response Plan updated.

The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) finalized the access strategy that defines key joint actions to address and mitigate the main barriers identified in terms of politicization of humanitarian assistance, bureaucratic impediments, physical and infrastructure constraints, security and protection of humanitarian actors and restrictions on mobility brought on by COVID- 19. In addition, the HCT approved the Collective Accountability Framework for Affected Communities and Populations, which provides a guide for minimum actions to be implemented in the humanitarian response in Venezuela. As part of the efforts to strengthen accountability to affected populations within the framework of the Humanitarian Response Plan, representatives of 60 humanitarian organizations (national and international NGOs and United Nations agencies) participated in the first Inter-Agency Course for the Comprehensive Approach to Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) in Venezuela.

ANALYSIS (28 Nov 2020)

Common operational challenges

The humanitarian response urgently requires more funding to sustain and expand implemented activities; many partners highlight critical funding gaps, including the response to COVID-19.

Humanitarian organizations should adapt their response modalities in the context of the pandemic to minimize the risk of infection, especially for frontline workers.

Movement limitations throughout the country, delays in importing some supplies, the availability of transport as well as fuel shortages have increased logistics challenges.

The magnitude of the needs requires a humanitarian response with greater operational capacity, including openness to the work of national and international NGOs with experience in health emergencies and in line with humanitarian principles.

OCHA coordinates the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises. We advocate for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all.

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