Since 2014, Venezuela has been devastated by an ongoing political and economic crisis that has:
- Forced 4.8 million Venezuelans from their homes.
- Left 7 million people in Venezuela in need of humanitarian assistance.
- Caused 90 percent of hospitals in Venezuela to be without enough water or access to medicine.
Working with international and local organizations and United Nations agencies, the United States has provided $56 million in humanitarian assistance inside Venezuela.
Here are four ways that the U.S. Agency for International Development’s support for the Venezuelan people made a difference in 2019:
1. Decreased measles deaths by more than 97 percent
Vaccination efforts from USAID and partners helped decrease measles deaths in Venezuela from 79 in 2018 to two in 2019. The number of confirmed measles cases also dropped, from nearly 5,800 in 2018 to less than 600 in 2019.
2. Provided much-needed water and hygiene supplies
USAID worked closely with partners in 2019 to provide water, sanitation and hygiene assistance to more than 7,000 people. This includes working with partners to distribute critical hygiene items — like toothbrushes, soap, and water containers — and training nearly 1,200 children and young people on hand-washing tips and other skills to stay healthy.
3. Provided lifesaving health supplies
USAID delivered enough medical supplies in 2019 to help 160,000 people for 90 days, including bandages, disposable latex gloves, syringes, and surgical instruments. In addition to distributing these supplies, USAID partners trained staff at health facilities on good administrative procedures and finance practices.
#Venezuela’s collapsing health system has left hospitals without basic supplies and prompted outbreaks of diseases. In response, @USAID has pre-positioned critically-needed health kits in nearby #Curacao. Here's how they work. #EstamosUnidosVE pic.twitter.com/eefNPwTgap
— USAID/OFDA (@theOFDA) April 4, 2019
4. Served more than a million hot meals
USAID partners served more than 1.4 million meals to vulnerable Venezuelans across 94 community kitchens and schools in 2019. This assistance reached nearly 16,000 people, including nearly 13,000 children.
A longer version of this article is available from USAID.
