Venezuela

Working environment

• UNHCR’s strategy focused on significantly increasing the access to effective, fair and institutionally robust asylum procedures managed by the Government.
• The country’s political, economic and security context in 2015 affected UNHCR’s implementation capacity. The severe fall in oil prices impacted the economy, and the scarcity of basic items led the Government to impose restrictions. Refugees and asylum-seekers were particularly affected, given that access to basic subsidized products was subject to the possession of a valid Venezuelan ID. 
• UNHCR’s activities focused on capacity building and advocacy to preserve the protection space and avoid deportations of persons of concern (PoC). UNHCR also made sure that those in need of international protection who returned to Colombia during the declaration of the State of Exception were given the possibility to return to Venezuela afterwards.

Population trends

• UNHCR estimated that some 174,000 people were in need of international protection at year-end, of whom nearly 99 per cent were from Colombia. UNHCR registered a total of 1,474 new asylum-seekers in 2015, identified through outreach missions. The pending asylum claims were more than 1,390. Some 14 persons returned voluntarily to their country of origin with UNHCR assistance. An additional 35 individuals reported their return to UNHCR. 
• 597 refugees were recognized in 2015 and a total of 795 cases were rejected. 
• During the border crisis (declaration of the State of Exception), around 1,950 Colombians were formally deported to Colombia. 
• About 48 per cent of the PoC assisted by UNHCR were women and girls.

Achievements and impact

• 454 people (of whom 353 live in remote communities) were registered by UNHCR and provided with legal orientation and access to the asylum procedures. 
• 650 cash grants were delivered, representing nearly the double of the 395 grants planned at the beginning of the year.
• UNHCR made advocacy interventions at the central and local levels and provided education actors with training on International Refugee Law, the national legal framework and the right to education of children and adolescents of concern.
• UNHCR and partners supported 85 children in accessing education. In addition, a total of 22 trainings involving some 691 staff working in the education and child protection sectors were conducted.

Unmet needs

• The scarcity of basic products, rampant inflation and exchange rates fluctuations impacted UNHCR’s budget by rapidly exhausting the funds available.
• The lack of documentation remained the most pressing constraint for many people in need of international protection.
• UNHCR had to freeze a microcredit agreement signed with a public institution owing to the reduced purchasing power of the credits caused by higher prices.