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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Belgium contribute to mitigating the negative impacts of La Niña on vulnerable farmers’ livelihoods
The socioeconomic crisis in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela continues to drive food insecurity, leaving 4.4 million people in rural and disaster-prone areas in need of food assistance. The state of Zulia is among the hardest hit by this complex humanitarian emergency, and the current La Niña cycle could make the situation worse. Forecasts show that over 60 percent of the livestock and croplands in the San Miguel channel, the main crop- and livestock-producing area of the Mara municipality in Zulia, are at risk of floods induced by La Niña. This could have a devastating impact on the already fragile livelihoods and food security situation.
In response, the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium contributed USD 500 000 to FAO through SFERA – Anticipatory Action window, to act ahead of projected La Niña impacts. FAO will strengthen early warning systems, rehabilitate the San Miguel channel and its tributary systems and deliver a livestock evacuation, shelter, food and veterinary care plan. It will also clean and maintain riverbeds close to populated areas, provide veterinary supplies and potentially evacuate up to 1 500 livestock. These interventions will directly benefit 1 667 households (7 786 people), many of whom from Indigenous Wayuu Peoples, iincluding through early warning systems that can protect up to 9 500 ha of agricultural land and 6 800 livestock from flood damage.