Caritas Internationalis work in Venezuela (GTV) decided to extend its operation due to the prolonged humanitarian crisis that continues to affect millions of people, generating flows of forced migration inside and outside the country.
The GTV was formed in 2018, by Cáritas delegations from Europe, the United States and Latin America, to address the economic, political and social crisis that Venezuelans – especially the most vulnerable – have been suffering for several years now.
The decision was made in the middle of its sixth annual meeting, held in Caracas from April 8 to 12, at the headquarters of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV). Alistar Dutton, general secretary of Cáritas Internationalis, was present; as well as Mons. José Luis Azuaje, president of Cáritas Venezuela and Archbishop of Maracaibo.
Given the Venezuelan crisis, which persists over time, the representatives of the Cáritas delegations agreed to extend the period of operation of GTV, upon verifying some situations that require the support and supervision of the group.
What stands out most from the GTV report is “food deprivation and chronic malnutrition in Venezuela in the most excluded households.” Furthermore, they indicated that “the constant inflation, the reduction in the value of the monetary unit and the purchasing power of food, and the difficulties and gaps in access to food subsidies from the State, make the realization of the Right to Food in Venezuela very difficult.”
Likewise, they indicated that the hunger suffered by the country’s population is one of the main triggers of the migratory crisis, and that the impact of the food crisis has generated negative consequences in children, such as “delayed growth, which affects the human capital of the country in an irreversible way.”
In economic matters, the GTV indicated that in Venezuela there is no sign of an improvement in purchasing power or sources of employment in the short term.
In that sense, they highlighted with concern that – despite having initially responded in a generous and supportive manner – several States in the region have had to take immigration measures that strengthen national security, such as the militarization of borders. “Cáritas Internationalis called on the countries of the region, and the international community in general, not to implement measures that only accentuate the suffering of Venezuelans.”
“In addition, various actors have made political and electoral instrumentalization of migration, as well as its criminalization, all of which has fueled violent, xenophobic and anti-migrant reactions,” stated the GTV.