Crisis Brief: Venezuela in Political, Economic, and Humanitarian Emergency
Venezuela is facing a rapidly intensifying crisis that threatens millions of lives. Hyperinflation, food and medicine shortages, mass displacement, and political repression are creating one of the largest humanitarian emergencies in modern history. This brief outlines the situation, its causes, and the urgent stakes for the country and the region.
BRIEF AND EXPLAINERS
Stephanie Mwangaza Kasereka
10/24/20252 min read
Location:
Venezuela and its neighbors, including Colombia, Brazil, and several Caribbean nations, as well as the broader South American region.
Main Actors:
Government: President Nicolás Maduro and the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV)
Opposition: Juan Guaidó, María Corina Machado, and civil society organizations
International: United States, European Union, neighboring countries (Colombia, Brazil), and international humanitarian organizations providing aid or applying sanctions
What Is Happening:
Venezuela is gripped by a rapidly intensifying crisis threatening economic survival, governance, and humanitarian conditions. Hyperinflation and deepening shortages of food, fuel, and medicine now leave millions in immediate jeopardy, cutting critical access to healthcare and education. Over 7.7 million Venezuelans have already fled, straining neighboring nations.
Political repression is escalating, with accelerating arrests and harsh restrictions targeting opposition leaders, activists, and journalists. In this climate of crisis, opposition leader María Corina Machado’s 2025 Nobel Peace Prize has reoriented global attention in Venezuela’s dire political and humanitarian emergency.
Why It Started:
The crisis stems from structural and governance challenges. Venezuela’s heavy reliance on oil revenues, combined with years of economic mismanagement and corruption, left the economy vulnerable to global price fluctuations and domestic inefficiencies. The concentration of power under President Maduro has limited institutional checks and public accountability. International sanctions and geopolitical pressures have compounded internal challenges, further straining the economy and restricting access to financial and humanitarian support.
What’s at Stake:
The crisis is escalating rapidly, creating immediate humanitarian, political, and regional risks. Mass displacement is driving one of the largest and fastest-growing refugee movements in modern history, placing Colombian, Brazilian, and regional services under severe strain. Political instability raises the risk of violence and social unrest, while the economic collapse threatens trade, investment, and development across South America. Urgent action is needed to prevent further deterioration.
Why It Matters Now:
Millions of Venezuelans urgently need access to food, clean water, medicine, and healthcare services, as well as safe living conditions, to prevent malnutrition, disease, and further displacement. Stabilizing Venezuela would reduce the flow of refugees into Colombia, Brazil, and Caribbean nations, easing pressure on housing, healthcare, and social services in those countries. It would also support regional trade and economic activity, improve infrastructure recovery, and allow communities to rebuild livelihoods. International coordination and support remain critical to deliver humanitarian aid, fund medical and nutrition programs, and assist local governments in managing displacement and restoring essential services.
References
Human Rights Watch. (2024, August 8). Venezuela: Brutal crackdown since elections. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/08/08/venezuela-brutal-crackdown-elections
USA for UNHCR. (2024). Venezuela crisis: Aid, statistics and news. USA for UNHCR. https://www.unrefugees.org/emergencies/venezuela/
Cawthorne, A. (2025, May 2). Venezuela’s Maduro readies security powers in case of feared US attack. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/venezuelas-maduro-readies-security-powers-case-feared-us-attack-2025-05-02/
El País América. (2025, May 3). Maduro amplía sus poderes con un nuevo estado de excepción para hacer frente a “la agresión de Estados Unidos”. El País América. https://elpais.com/america/2025-05-03/maduro-amplia-sus-poderes-con-un-nuevo-estado-de-excepcion.html
Associated Press. (2025, April 28). Transition plan rejected by U.S. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/1218510e67a90c136eba23a961597e55
Phillips, T. (2025, October 10). Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/10/venezuelan-politician-maria-corina-machado-wins-nobel-peace-prize