Since 26 May, there have been heavy rains across Venezuela, especially in the states of Zulia, Táchira, Mérida, Trujillo, Amazonas, Bolívar, Delta Amacuro and Esequibo. The first tropical wave (an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, which moves from east to west across the tropics) of the rainy season (typically between May and November) occurred in June and resulted in flooding.

On 12 October, the US Department of Homeland Security announced joint actions with Mexico to create a more orderly and safe immigration system for Venezuelans. This aims to reduce the number of people arriving at the southwestern US border. At the same time, the number of stranded people unlikely to reach their destination is increasing, and the response capacity is overwhelmed.

This report is based on a secondary data review, supplemented by interviews with members of civil society, INGOs, and UN agencies. Although the issue of caminantes is understood to be a regional phenomenon that affects multiple countries, because of the availability of information the focus of this report is on Colombia and Venezuela. 

In Venezuela, the first cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on 13 March 2020 and containment measures were introduced over the following weeks. An increase in cases is likely, due to an inconsistent adherence to the lockdown, limited PCR testing, and limitations on regular access to hygiene related to water shortages.

The socioeconomic crisis in Venezuela continued to deteriorate throughout 2018, leading to further collapse of services, deterioration of health facilities, food security, and nutrition among the population, and one of the biggest mass displacements in South America’s history.

The deepening political and socio-economic crisis in Venezuela has led to one of the biggest mass displacements in the history of South America. Although no consolidated figure for the region is available, all sources indicate that migration from Venezuela to neighbouring countries is drastically increasing. 117,300 Venezuelans filed asylum claims in the first half of 2018 alone, already more than the number of asylum claims reported at the end of 2017.

The economic crisis in Venezuela has led to a deterioration of the humanitarian conditions and increased humanitarian needs. Import restrictions and hyperinflation reduce availability and access to basic goods and services. The economic crisis is exacerbated by a political crisis revolving around the erosion of democratic institutions. 

Import restrictions from the economic crisis that escalated in 2014 are resulting in severe food shortages and escalating malnutrition rates. A recent assessment of 526 children in several states found GAM rates of 8.9% and SAM of 3.2%. Severe medicine shortages combined with poor hospital services facilitate the spread of diseases such as malaria and diphtheria. 

The Zika virus epidemic in Latin America and the Caribbean is most affecting Brazil, with over one million cases estimated. Colombia reports over 18,000 confirmed and 2,000 suspected cases and anticipates over 650,000. El Salvador reports over 6,000 suspected cases. Venezuela reports over 4,500 confirmed cases, however unofficial estimates are thought to be as high as 400,000.