UN experts on Friday warned that the recent earthquakes in Venezuela have exacerbated its humanitarian and human rights crisis, and urged authorities to remove regulatory barriers to humanitarian aid and relief provided by non-profits and NGOs.
The UN called on Venezuela and the international community to remove restrictions and respect civil society as a “key partner in the processes of delivering aid.” It called for the active involvement and meaningful participation of affected persons in the provision of emergency shelter, “reconstruction plans and other long-term solutions.” The UN also urged the Venezuelan authorities to carry out their response in accordance with international human rights standards.
As the country grapples with the aftermath of the earthquakes of June 24, the UN experts contended that it is crucial that organizations are allowed to provide aid and humanitarian relief to affected communities. The UN outlined that the state must prioritize “facilitating humanitarian action and respecting the work of all organizations.” The experts said:
Venezuelan authorities must put an end to these restrictions and, instead, promote measures that facilitate the work of civil society as an indispensable part of the reconstruction effort, including women and people from traditionally marginalized groups… A coordinated response, free from undue restrictions, is urgently needed to ensure unhindered access for international cooperation, with a human rights-based approach centred on victims.
Citing the Law on the Oversight, Regularisation, Operation, and Financing of Non-governmental Organisations and Non-Profit Social Organizations as an example of such restrictions, the experts outlined that the law requires organizations “to complete registration procedures with the Autonomous Service of Registries and Notaries, which in practice, are impossible due to the government’s administrative silence…thereby arbitrarily suspending the organizations’ legal status.” The UN experts also emphasized that under regulations, banks are required to subject NGOs, both local and international, to “excessive oversight.”
On June 24, two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela. According to the Red Cross, the current death toll is 3,500, with more than 12,000 people injured. Further, the earthquakes have left infrastructure critically damaged.
A recent assessment by the UK for the UN Refugee Agency revealed that the humanitarian crisis has become severe, “with food shortages, collapsed basic services, and growing protection risks affecting thousands of people.” It outlined that Venezuela was already facing economic challenges, which have now been exacerbated.
The International Disaster Response Law is international law which guides governments on disaster preparedness and response, including how to mitigate regulatory barriers which may arise from international disaster response operations and international assistance.
