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David M Knicely

POLS 4430: International Law and Organization

Fall 2019

Resolving the Venezuelan Humanitarian Crisis through International Organizations

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The evolving humanitarian crisis in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Venezuela) is

involving the international community on several fronts. Policies enacted by the current and

previous regime have built a crumbling foundation that the local populace, Latin America, and

international entities are being forced to pay the price to help resolve. Military force, economic

sanctions, political relations, and a multitude of other facets have led to the decimation of human

rights and violations for Venezuelans. The world is watching as the largest humanitarian crisis in

the Americas and second largest worldwide in our current history takes place (Arnson, 2019).

Rampant crime, the highest murder rate for a countries capital in the world, lack of proper

medical care and food shortages have led to an extreme exodus of refugees fleeing Venezuela

searching for survivability (Hylton, 2018). The United Nations has formally condemned the

Venezuelan government and recently launched a “harmonized” plan to support the Venezuelan

refugees with a $1.35 billion appeal to increase necessities as well as help support communities

in Latin and Central American communities hosting the migrants (Venezuela, UN News, 2019).

Through an understanding of the history leading to the current events, identifying key players in

the situation that can enact positive change, comprehending ongoing operations in the region,

and grasping potential solutions will a feasible plan be brought to help resolve the humanitarian

crisis in Venezuela through international law and organizations.

The historical context spawns from former President Chavez’s internal socialist policy

decisions that led to ten years of socio-economic changes such as land reform from larger estates

to create housing programs for poor citizens, regulatory fines and imprisonment for individuals

who openly opposed the current regime, and a centralized governmental approach for economic

markets (Venezuela profile, 2019). President Chavez’s protégé, the current President Maduro,

continued these policies and increased government intervention that developed issues such as
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political suppression and assassination, elimination of individual liberty for the collective good,

prison conditions, and the displacement of the local populace after policies were enacted

(Avenue, 2019). When President Maduro was re-elected to a second term last year in

controversial elections the opposition parties boycotted the elections and Mr. Juan Guaidó,

president of the opposition-controlled National Assembly declared himself acting president by

citing legislature in Venezuela’s constitution due to the election process (What’s behind

Venezuela’s Political Crisis?, 2019).

The migration from Venezuela increased especially towards the end of President

Chavez’s rule and continued under President Maduro. Initially, academic experts found the

migration to be from working males leaving the country seeking better employment to earn

enough wages to send money back to their homes. However, as the country declined, the crisis

intensified within Venezuela and families began fleeing persecution and crime to meet basic

sustenance needs (Casey, 2016). A recent report from multiple non-governmental organizations

state an estimated 4.5 to 6 million Venezuelans, about 20% of the country’s population, have fled

the country since President Chavez’s revolution took over the country in 1999 (Manager, 2019).

For the Venezuelans who stayed, nearly 90% live in an epidemic of poverty and experience

extreme violence either from the government military or gang-related incidents. The burden this

has created on the international community has created a two-fold problem of both how to

properly host refugees and integrate them into whatever country they are fleeing into, and how to

help the Venezuelans currently still living in the country. Therefore, key players, both in the

country of Venezuela and the international community, involved in this crisis must be identified

for helping create roles in resolving the humanitarian crisis.

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There are many facets to how international law is utilized with various organizations

encompassing differing roles both in the public and private sectors. Entities such as

intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, charities, state actors, and

individuals outline both subjective and objective ideals that ultimately form international law and

the enforcement of policies. The Venezuelan government is a key factor in this situation due to

their ability to set laws and regulations and their foreign policies with other countries that affect

socio-economic development. Venezuela has aligned with other like-minded countries such as

Russia, Iran, and Cuba that has created a mesh of foreign policy that has affected their country

both with state actors and non-state actors alike. For example, President Maduro blames the

humanitarian crisis on sanctions from other countries such as the United States who support

opposition leader President Guaidó. However, the Venezuelan military, along with military

assets sold from China and Russia have classed with aid relief teams trying to deliver food and

medicine to the Venezuelan citizens, causing neighboring countries such as Columbia and Brazil

to stockpile resources (Venezuelan Humanitarian and Refugee Crisis, 2019).

Other sovereign nations play a pivotal role as well for both countries that are receiving

the refugees, implementing integration programs, donor countries, and representatives who can

work together to help the migrants find stability until Venezuela is established a safe place to

return to again. Columbia has received the largest flux of refugees over 1.5 million migrants with

an expectation of doubling by 2021. Columbia has not attempted to limit the refugee migration

but has reach out to the United Nations with a financial appeal of $1 billion dollars to assist with

community programs and costs. “Donors have contributed about $5,000 towards the costs of

support of each Syrian refugee since that country’s crisis began, but only $193 per Venezuelan in

Columbia” (Venezuelan Humanitarian and Refugee Crisis, 2019). As of September 3rd, officials
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from neighboring countries of Peru, Ecuador, and Chile met together to establish an information

flow for Venezuelans applying for visas to assist in the migration flow (Venezuela Regional

Crisis Fact Sheet, 2019). Even the United States, a known opponent of the current governmental

regime that has taken economic and social actions against Venezuela, provided over $472

million in humanitarian funding since 2017 that supported community kitchens and nutrition,

food vouchers, household items, medical staffing and equipment, child-friend spaces,

agricultural tools, vaccinations and disease surveillance, and basic hygiene supplies (U.S.

Response to the Venezuela Regional Crisis, 2019.

Supra-national organizations such as the United Nations can track, coordinate, and

execute relief programs. According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

(UNCHR) there have been 650,606 total cases for asylum claims since 2014. Additionally, there

have been over 2 million resident permits filed outside the asylum system for one to two years

internationally through various forms of residence permits, labour migration visas, humanitarian

visas, and regional visa agreements (Situation Venezuela Situation, 2019). There are entities

within the United Nations that can utilize operations to implement militaristic protection of aide

teams, equipment and assets as well as provide logistical support for legal or medical teams

through a coordinated coalition force. Additionally, supra-national organizations can coordinate

with both state and non-state actors when working towards resolution.

Non-state actors such as International Criminal Court provide outlets for victims of

genocide, humanitarian crimes, and other forms of aggression demonstrated by both

governmental leaders and other entities. The International Court has over 900 staff members

from 100 nations that aim to compliment national Courts and help prevent future violence from

occurring through accountability. Due to Venezuela contributing to the ratification of the Rome
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Statute on 7 June 2000 the International Criminal Court can exercise jurisdiction for crimes

committed in Venezuela from 2002 and onwards. A preliminary examination was launched 8

February 2018 to analyze accused crimes that were committed by government officials under

President Maduro that involved detaining opposition political individuals, civilians prosecuted in

military tribunals, assassinations, violent measures used against protestors, and ill-treatment of

individuals confined in prison or detention centers (International Criminal Court, 2019). The

case was assigned to Pre-Trial Chamber I and is still under investigation.

Another non-state entity is the International Monetary Relief (IMF) that provides

monetary cooperation to help reduce poverty around the world by fostering financial stability,

promoting employment through sustainable economic growth and monitors macroeconomic and

financial sector issues that can affect global stability. The IMF has tracked the current inflation

rate for Venezuela is 200,000% with a projected inflation rate of 500,000% by 2020 and a

decrease in -35% in gross domestic product (GDP) annually (Republica Bolivariana de

Venezuela and the IMF, 2019). The IMF works globally to help offer loan programs for

financially struggling countries to develop programs that help both non-governmental and

government entities.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is an inter-governmental

organization that works with a variety of actors to implement humane and orderly migration that

benefits governments and migrants by providing services through international cooperation. The

broad areas of migration that the IOM specializes in is migration and development, facilitating

migration, regulating migration, and forced migration (About IOM, 2014). The IOM has already

been working with the UNCHR helping facilitate distribution of emergency kits and non-food

items, access documentation and regularization services, family reunification, livelihood

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opportunities, and provide temporary accommodation during the migration process for

Venezuelans (“Venezuelan Refugee and Migrant Crisis”, 2019). With Venezuela having a

coastal front the IOM has discovered more refugees are taking maritime routes to neighboring

Caribbean islands that previously, which increases chances of smuggling and trafficking.

Through the IOM and other similar governmental organizations many attempts to help with the

sustainment and safe migration of the refugees have taken place, but other key players such as

non-governmental organizations, private charities, and individuals play a pivotal role as well.

A non-governmental organization (NGO) has pros and cons to how they operate within

the international community, regarding both to operating in sovereign nations and international

law. Some of the advantages is the freedom to have flexible operating procedures that can morph

depending on the situation presented. A disadvantage is the foundational support a governmental

agency has to offer, as well as the operating procedures outlined in a definitive set of laws either

within the state, or through international law. There are countless NGOs who can provide

assistance in multiple aspects of helping resolve the humanitarian crisis. “120 Venezuelan NGOs

have express grave concern of UN agencies operating in the country, as the human rights and

humanitarian crisis in the country deepens […] NGOs voice specific concerns about the fact that

representatives of UN agencies and the Resident Coordinator attending the swearing-in of

President” (Humanitarian, 2019). So, while there are tensions in how the UN is officially

handling the situation, NGOs are currently working together in conjunctions with host, donor

states working to resolve the ongoing issue.

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy is one of many NGO entities that help increase the

effectiveness of donations through funding strategic programs and offering guidance through

educational resources for helping respond and plan for disasters within a community. They
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provide legal and educational support for incidents such as what is developing in Venezuela for

how the international community can jointly handle this humanitarian crisis (Venezuelan

Humanitarian and Refugee Crisis, 2019). Other NGOs have focused on delivering medical

supplies and staffing, food, shelter, work programs, and other necessities. Some of the NGOs are

working with Venezuela and the UN such as the International Federation of the Red Cross to

provide medical supplies and power generators to hospitals under the permission of President

Maduro. Other organizations, such as the Pan American Health Organization and the United

Nations Children’s Fund have worked in conjunction with the UN as well (Venezuela | As crisis

deepens, 2019).

As demonstrated through the identification of key players in this situation there has

already been a solid foundation and piece worked solutions, but no overarching response. In

order to fully understand the situation and identify all the issues for resolving the current crisis a

coordinated effort must be taken led by the UN. First, a public condemnation of the current

regime must be made by the UN for the tyrannical treatment of Venezuelans by their

government. Secondly, the UN can lead a coalition force that can protect aide workers and

supplies to allow freedom of movement through the country must be ascertained. The coalition

force would be broken into five main groups: administration, security forces, aide teams,

logistical support, and migration liaisons.

The first group, administration, will provide oversight for all the components of the

coalition force, help facilitate visa processing with donor countries, provide legal assistance, and

work with the ICC to hold Venezuelan government officials accountable for the devastation their

policies and military enforcement has wrecked not only on the civilian population, but secondary

affects to the worldwide community. The administration group will coordinate all entities such as
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other governmental organizations, NGOs, and states to ensure continuity for the conglomerate

effort in resolving the crisis. Additionally, the administration group will work with the UN

Human Rights Council to ensure all policies and guidelines are followed by participating groups.

The second group, security forces, will adhere to strict rules of engagement (ROE) that

will apply to the protection of aide teams and equipment. If hostility continues between the

Venezuelan military forces and aide teams then the UN Security Council must convene over

alternate courses of actions that can provide stability in the region. The security forces will be

utilized in the same manner as other international operations are being conducted in regions such

as the Sudan, Yemen, and Kosovo. These forces will also need maritime forces to help stem

international arms transactions that are occurring between Venezuela and Russia or China

currently. These actions will help cease further military employment against the civilian

population. Additionally, security forces will be present at protest gatherings to prevent further

civilian loss of life and aggressive hostilities that are resulting in political opposition arrests.

The third group, aide teams, will be the teams dispatched both within Venezuela as well

as host, donor countries to provide the populace with medical personnel, legal assistance that can

liaison with the migration and administration groups, sanitation teams, housing officials,

personnel to distribute and maintain accountability of items dispersed. The aide teams will

deliver food, water, disease prevention aids, clothing, and other household items needed to help

families survive during either displacement in other countries or to help the civilians still inside

Venezuela. Additionally, the aide teams will have engineers and power technicians to help

provide power not only to the housing areas, but businesses and hospitals as well. Legal

personnel must be present as well that can set up work stations at aid camps, host nations, and

within Venezuela for individuals to come for assistance pertaining to any issues pertaining to the
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humanitarian crisis. The aid teams will be comprised of both governmental and non-

governmental with coordination from the coalition force under the administrative group.

The fourth group, logistical support, will be in charge of coordinating supplies and

transportation for the aide teams and security forces in the region. They will work with port

authorities, states, maritime vessels, and land transportation to ensure that adequate logistical

support is maintained for ongoing operations. A short term and long term plan will be developed

to set attainable logistic goals to identify what regions need the most help and what long term

transportation plans can be initiated that can be maintained once the immediate crisis is over.

This is the most complicated piece of the resolution because of support needed due to the amount

of personnel and equipment that must maintain freedom of movement and proper accountability

entailed. NGOs will play a pivotal role in this operation for the sustainability of operations.

Lastly, migration liaisons, will work administratively to ensure an overhaul is conducted

for host, donor nations for individuals either seeking asylum or refugee status as well as help

create, catalog, and complete visas for families searching for temporary refuge. The migration

liaisons must have representatives and legal teams to facilitate all actions needed for a quick

resolution. Furthermore, the migration liaisons must have a coordinated approach with host,

donor countries, NGOs, the UN, and governmental organizations due to complexity of legal

systems varying from country to country.

In conclusion, through an understanding of the history leading to the current events,

identifying key players in the situation that can enact positive change, comprehending ongoing

operations in the region, and grasping potential solutions will a feasible plan be brought to help

resolve the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela through international law and organizations. The

multitude of features involved in the resolution will take a coordinated approach that must be
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centralized through not only a cultural shift within the country of Venezuela, but an international

approach for helping the civilian population. Short and long term achievable goals must be

outlined and processed through for successful implementation. The United Nations must take

action through the use of a coalition force dedicated to the eradication of human right violations

by implementing host nations, NGOs, and other governmental organizations.

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“About IOM.” International Organization for Migration. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 19

November 2019. https://www.iom.int/about-iom.

Arnson, Cynthia J. The Venezuelan Refugee Crisis Is Not Just a Regional Problem. 26

July 2019. Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 5 October 2019.

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/venezuela/2019-07-26/venezuelan-refugee-crisis- not-

just-regional-problem.

Avenue, Human Rights Watch. 350 Fifth, et. Al. “World Report 2019 Rights Trends in

Venezuela.” Human Rights Watch, 20 December 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2019.

https://hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/venezuela

Casey, Nicholas. “Hungry Venezuelans Flee in Boats to Escape Economic Collapse.”

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government-cracks-down.html.
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