8 January 2026 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Venezuela and stands ready to scale up our humanitarian response in Venezuela, Colombia and the surrounding region should needs increase.
The IRC warns that further instability would pile further pressure on already vulnerable communities in Venezuela and across the region. Nearly 8 million people inside Venezuela already require humanitarian assistance. With public systems in Venezuela and neighboring countries overstretched and many families struggling to meet even their most basic needs, a deterioration in the security situation would drive further displacement and compound existing suffering.
David Miliband, President and CEO of the IRC, said:
“Recent events in Venezuela create new uncertainty for people long grappling with political and economic instability. The implications are regional—particularly for countries like Colombia, already home to nearly 3 million Venezuelan refugees hosted in neighboring states. There is good reason that Colombia features on the IRC’s 2026 Emergency Watchlist, as the potential for a new and major economic crisis and displacement out of Venezuela grows, coupled with risks of escalating internal conflict. Our recently published Watchlist catalogued new global disorder, driven by 60 conflicts around the world, defined not by rules for nations and rights for individuals, but instead notable for the absence of both. The political crisis in Venezuela is evidence of this syndrome:"
The longstanding humanitarian crisis had already extended far beyond Venezuela’s borders. An estimated 7.9 million Venezuelans have left the country in search of safety and stability, with the majority settling in neighbouring countries such as Colombia—contexts that are themselves grappling with chronic humanitarian challenges linked to internal displacement, violence, and natural disasters.
The region has been seriously impacted by aid cuts over the past year, limiting its resources to respond to a potential increase in humanitarian need driven by the conflict. Colombia, which hosts the largest number of Venezuelans abroad, lost approximately 70% of its humanitarian funding in 2025 and the government has reduced capacity to lead a response due to significant budgetary constraints.
As the situation develops, IRC is preparing for a potential increase in Venezuelans seeking protection in Colombia and monitoring whether any Venezuelans in diaspora will seek to return to Venezuela. Both scenarios would require significant humanitarian operations in both countries and potentially throughout the region to provide shelter, food, protection, and health services to people on the move, and help them integrate into their new communities. Within Venezuela, our teams have also identified a heightened need for mental health and psychosocial support services.
The IRC urges international recognition of the need to urgently scale up humanitarian funding and support to Venezuelans impacted by the ongoing crisis, both in Venezuela and in host communities throughout the region.
The IRC and our partners have been working in both Venezuela and Colombia since 2018, delivering essential, life‑saving services to communities in need. Our teams are addressing urgent health, nutrition, protection, education, food security, and livelihoods needs among Venezuelans. We are prepared to expand our health programming, cash assistance, and other critical services as conditions require. In 2025, the IRC reached more than 50,000 people in Venezuela and over 20,000 people in Colombia with vital humanitarian assistance.