• The IRC identified Haiti, Honduras and Venezuela as the countries most at risk of experiencing deteriorating humanitarian crises in 2022 in Latin America and the Caribbean;

  • In 2022 Emergency Watchlist, IRC reveals a “System Failure”: the international system meant to prevent and address humanitarian crises is not only failing, but directly fueling them, as well as record displacement and humanitarian need;

  • Conflict, climate change and COVID-19 are among the main risks for the three countries, with potential impacts at a regional scale;

  • IRC calls for a Total System Upgrade to prioritize both the urgent work to provide humanitarian relief as well as confront the drivers of the crises.

Haiti, Honduras and Venezuela are the three countries in Latin America and the Caribbean deemed most at risk of humanitarian deterioration over the year ahead, according to the 2022 Emergency Watchlist, a report by the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

IRC analysis has identified how the global humanitarian system, which is designed to protect civilians, prevent conflict, hold abusers to account, and guarantee that aid reaches those in need, is failing at all levels. The 2022 Emergency Watchlist reveals that this system failure is even fueling the crises, driving displacement, and increasing the needs.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, the system failure has particularly harmed Haiti, Honduras and Venezuela, which have experienced deteriorating living conditions throughout the years and today are home to almost 15 million people in need of aid. During 2022, the countries are expected to face humanitarian risks spanning from ongoing conflict and violence, to higher vulnerability to the effects of natural disasters and climate change, the consequences of COVID-19, and more.

Meghan Lopez, Regional Vice President for Latin America at the International Rescue Committee, said:

Last year, we saw how Haitians, Hondurans and Venezuelans endured terrible challenges that forced hundreds of thousands to leave their homes and try to find safety within their own countries first. Unfortunately, as we have historically seen, people usually encounter similar situations to those they escaped, and are left with no choice but to continue their journeys and look for alternatives elsewhere.

The amount of displaced people is a result of emergencies that have been escalating and that, if the international community fails to address, will undoubtedly shape the region this year. They will contribute to the expansion of humanitarian crises not only within, but beyond their borders; we have already seen this happen at the Darien Gap, across the migration corridors in Mexico, and in host countries, like Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. As Latin America increasingly becomes a route for those in need of protection (even from very distant places, like Afghanistan), and needs continue to rise, more international funding and cooperation will be key to respond across the arc of the crisis.

Among other risks, the IRC identified three that the Latin American countries have in common

Ongoing conflict and growing violence

Vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change

COVID-19 and its effects

The IRC calls for a “Total System Upgrade” to address the consequences of the system failures seen in Watchlist countries. This will require a dual response, with more effective humanitarian action that tackles the symptoms and better serves the victims, while also tackling the roots of the problem.

Read the full report, with more insights from each country and the IRC’s recommendations for addressing the System Failure here.

The IRC in Latin America

The IRC is responding across the arc of the crisis in Latin America: delivering a population-based response to the Venezuela crisis in Colombia, Ecuador and through local partners in Venezuela; supporting vulnerable people in northern Central America (Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador) and along the main migration corridors in Mexico, from the southern to the northern borders.

The IRC’s current programming includes supporting women’s protection and empowerment, including prevention and protection of women, girls and members of the LGBTQ+ community who have been survivors of gender-based violence; economic recovery and development; primary, sexual and reproductive health; mental health and psychosocial support; cultural orientation; and access to critical information through InfoPa’lante in Colombia, CuéntaNos in northern Central America and InfoDigna in Mexico, all of them part of the Global Signpost project.

Additionally, after the earthquake that hit Haiti in August 2021, IRC provided funding to support the work of FOSREF, FADHRIS and Kay Fanm, local organizations implementing activities to satisfy priority needs.