The 2021 Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan for displaced Venezuelans

Venezuela is a country which has been experiencing many adverse developments within its socio-economic, political and humanitarian landscape for many years. The result of political unrest, lack of investment, and food shortages has led to the mass migration of Venezuelans. It is claimed to be one of the largest forced displacements in the western hemisphere (BBC, 2020). Data recorded in November 2020 shows that there are 5.4 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants living in host countries, and a further 4.6 million internally displaced people within the country itself (RMPR, 2020).

The impact of Covid-19 has left the country with an even more severe strain on national and local capacities. The subsequent effects of safety measures such as lockdowns and border closures leave already vulnerable Venezuelans without the resources or means to meet their basic needs (RMPR, 2020).

In addition to the existing instability of the country, the pandemic has led to an increase of gender-based violence, mental health needs, xenophobia, stigmatization, malnutrition, and destitution. The most vulnerable members of society, including single-headed households, unaccompanied and separated children, females, LGBTQI+, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses, have been worst affected by the issues heightened as the result of Covid-19 (RMPR P4V, 2020).

In 2018, the Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RMPR) was established to respond to the Venezuelan crisis by providing assistance and advocacy tools to regions supporting Venezuelan refugees and migrants, both within the country and in host countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The RMPR is produced reflecting the sectoral set-up of the Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V). It is made up of 158 humanitarian organizations, and in coordination with 17 countries within Latin America and the Caribbean (RMPR R4V, 2020).

The RMPR 2021 provides an intra-regional strategic plan, consulting with host governments, local communities, local authorities, United nations agencies, civil society, and Venezuelan migrants and refugees. In total, a US$1.44 billion plan has been developed to facilitate the most urgent needs of the crisis (RMPR R4V, 2020). Out of the total budget, US$410 million is required to be directed to issues arising from conditions developed as the result of Covid-19 (RMPR, 2020).

The budget will be allocated to the following sectors throughout the participating regions: education (US$83.3 million), food security (US$190 million), health (US$212 million), humanitarian transportation (US$10.8 million), integration (US$264 million), nutrition (US$12.1 million), protection (US$141 million), shelter (US$70 million), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) (US$42.4 million), multipurpose cash assistance (US$247 million), and common services (US$63.1 million).

(RMPR, 2020)

Despite the large budget, multi-sector plan providing an integrated and targeted approach at supporting vulnerable Venezuelans, the high number of refugees and migrants mean that only a portion of those in need can be targeted in the 2021 plan. Nevertheless, with 3.3 million people targeted of the 7.2 million people in need, the number of people who will receive support provides grounds for a positive outcome in the implementation of the RMPR (ReliefWeb, 2020).