Venezuela: Doctors protest in Caracas Sep. 25

Event

Doctors protested in Caracas on Monday, September 25, against a perceived “passive attitude” by the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the ongoing health crisis in the country. Protesters congregated in front of the local office of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), a subsidiary of the WHO, demanding greater pressure be applied to the Venezuelan government regarding health issues.

Context

Access to healthcare in Venezuela has become increasingly problematic in recent years, with the country reporting shortages of about 85 percent of medicines, worsened by an increasing shortage of qualified doctors.

Venezuela has been shaken by months of violent anti-government protests in 2017, coinciding with ongoing political, economic, social, and health crises. While the rate and intensity of protests has fallen in recent months, the underlying problems remain and the potential for further large-scale protests and associated violence cannot be overstated. Over 120 people have been killed amid protests and associated violence since April, with the majority of fatalities attributed to excessive force on the part of security authorities.

Advice

Individuals in Caracas and other Venezuelan cities are advised to closely monitor the security situation due to the risk of violence. Maintain a stockpile of enough food, water, and other supplies enabling you to shelter in place for several days in the event of a sudden deterioration in the local security situation.