In
December 2025, Venezuela continues to face a complex, ongoing crisis
characterized by severe humanitarian needs, a persistent political
standoff following the contested 2024 election, and acute human
rights violations.
Humanitarian and Economic Crisis
Widespread Poverty and Food Insecurity: Roughly 73.2% of the population lived in poverty in 2024, and about 40% experience food insecurity. A basic food basket remains unaffordable for most families due to low wages and high living costs.
Collapse of Basic Services: Households suffer from persistent interruptions in access to potable water, electricity, and gas supplies. The healthcare system is severely strained by shortages of medical supplies and qualified personnel.
Mass Migration: Approximately 8 million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2014, with most residing in other Latin American and Caribbean countries. These refugees and migrants face significant obstacles in accessing jobs and healthcare, making them vulnerable to exploitation.
Humanitarian Aid Shortages: The 2025 UN Humanitarian Response Plan is severely underfunded, limiting aid organizations to providing only "bare-bones" life-saving interventions.
Political and Human Rights Issues
Electoral Crisis and Repression: The country is experiencing a major political crisis following the July 2024 presidential election, where Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner despite widespread international concerns about transparency and evidence suggesting the opposition candidate, Edmundo González, won by a significant margin.
Crackdown on Dissent: The government has engaged in brutal repression, including killings, arbitrary detentions, and persecution of protesters, opposition members, and human rights defenders. Over 1,900 "political prisoners" were arrested in the months following the election.
Lack of Judicial Independence: State institutions, including the judiciary and the Attorney General's office, are widely seen as instruments of the executive branch, used to facilitate repression and ensure impunity for government officials accused of crimes against humanity.
Suppression of Civil Society and Media: Authorities have intensified efforts to restrict civic space, including passing legislation to control the operations and financing of NGOs, blocking independent media websites, and harassing journalists.
Regional and Geopolitical Tensions
International Isolation and Sanctions: The U.S. and other nations do not recognize Maduro as the legitimate president and have imposed sanctions, which, along with the government's economic mismanagement, continue to impact the economy.
Increased Military Posturing: Escalating tensions with the U.S. have led to increased military activity in the region, including airspace warnings and concerns about potential conflict. There are also ongoing risks related to the territorial dispute over the oil-rich Essequibo region with neighboring Guyana.
Armed Groups: Non-state armed groups, including the ELN and former FARC dissidents, operate in border states, contributing to insecurity and human rights abuses, especially in mining areas.
In December 2025, Venezuela continues to face a multifaceted political, economic, and humanitarian crisis, marked by the fallout from disputed elections, a severe humanitarian emergency, persistent human rights abuses, and escalating international tensions.
Key problems include:
Political and Governance Crisis
Disputed Election Results: Following the July 2024 presidential election, the official declaration of Nicolás Maduro as the winner is widely disputed by the opposition and international observers, including the UN and the Carter Center, due to a lack of transparency and credible evidence. The electoral council has not released required precinct-level tally sheets.
Intensified Repression: The government has engaged in a brutal crackdown on dissent since the election, involving killings, arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, and the prosecution of political opponents, human rights defenders, and protesters.
Exile and Political Persecution: Opposition leader Edmundo González was forced to flee the country after an arrest warrant was issued for "conspiracy" charges. Many other opposition members and human rights defenders are in exile or arbitrarily detained.
Undermining of Democratic Institutions: State institutions, including the judiciary and the National Assembly, function as instruments of the executive branch, lacking independence and facilitating the commission of crimes against humanity.
Lack of Transparency: There is virtually no transparency in government spending and data, with the government failing to publish reliable economic and crime statistics.
Economic and Humanitarian Emergency
Widespread Poverty and Food Insecurity: Despite some GDP growth in 2024, the economy remains less than half the size it was in 2013, and income levels are insufficient for most families to purchase basic necessities. An estimated 73.2% of the population lived in poverty in 2024, and roughly 40% experience food insecurity.
Infrastructure Collapse: Many households suffer from persistent interruptions in essential services like reliable access to potable water, electricity, and gas supply.
Strained Healthcare System: The healthcare system is severely impacted by shortages of medical supplies, a lack of qualified personnel, and limited access to essential medicines.
Funding Shortages for Aid: The UN Humanitarian Response Plan for 2025 remains significantly underfunded, impacting the ability of aid organizations like the World Food Program to provide critical assistance.
Migration and Refugee Crisis
Mass Exodus: Since 2014, approximately 8 million Venezuelans have fled the country, creating one of the world's largest external displacement crises.
Vulnerability of Migrants: Refugees and migrants face obstacles in accessing jobs and healthcare, and many are vulnerable to human trafficking and other abuses, particularly those crossing dangerous routes like the Darién Gap.
International Tensions
Escalating US-Venezuela Tensions: The U.S. continues its policy of not recognizing Maduro as the legitimate president and has issued new airspace warnings due to increased military activity and the risk of military confrontation.
Sanctions and Isolation: U.S. and other international sanctions continue to target the state oil company PDVSA and government officials, contributing to economic uncertainty and international isolation.
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Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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