Abstract

BERNAL, Jennifer. From a food crisis to a humanitarian emergency in Venezuela. An Venez Nutr [online]. 2020, vol.33, n.2, pp.154-160.  Epub Oct 11, 2021. ISSN 0798-0752.

The food crisis announced by scientists in 2007 has become a humanitarian emergency in 2021. An unbalanced economy, high food prices, lack of basic services such as water, sanitation, were brewing, resulting in a hyperinflation of 3713%, a minimum wage that covers 0.88% of the food basket, 97% of the population with food insecurity, 15% of acute malnutrition and 30% of stunting in children under 5 y. and the migration of 4.6 million Venezuelans. This manuscript analyzes the perceptions of a food crisis in Venezuela, associated factors and strategies to improve it from the perspective of food and nutrition professionals in 2007. Fifty-one professionals were intentionally selected, of which 10 subjects answered a confidential and electronic interview. The categorization and analysis of the interviews was complemented with references from other authors, for the construction of the theory. Most of those interviewed admitted a food crisis in 2007, with associated factors of a political, economic, essential utilities and even moral nature. As recommendations arise: "reorient agricultural, livestock, education, work and remuneration policies, among others, directly and indirectly related to the food sector, in order to supply markets and allow food to reach the population." This approach to the food crisis made it possible to understand how the crisis exacerbated into a humanitarian emergency aggravated by the pandemic. A whole generation of Venezuelans has been lost to illness, death, opportunities, and migration.

Keywords : Nutrition policy; food and nutrition security; food assistance; Venezuela; declaration of emergency.

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