Some communities among the indigenous Warao people living in Venezuela’s Delta Amacuro state live in areas so remote that the only way to access them is to take a boat along the Orinoco River. The colossal river flows into the Atlantic at the Orinoco Delta, where the river branches into a network of channels and forms islets covered in lush swamp forests. The land in the delta is rich with minerals and biodiversity, yet—despite this wealth of natural resources—access to food remains a challenge for the families and communities there. To support the nutritional needs of local families, International Medical Corps, in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), has been delivering food to students, their families and school personnel through Delta Amacuro school meal programmes since May 2022.
Implementing the programme in these remote communities requires strategic planning and careful logistical deployment—accounting for the tides and flow of the Orinoco River, weather conditions, frequent fuel shortages and a limited supply of shipping suppliers—just to reach the communities in need. Despite these difficulties, our teams have delivered more than 2,300 metric tons of food across 61 schools, serving more than 15,000 families in Delta Amacuro, including indigenous families and families with children with disabilities.
International Medical Corps staff deliver food baskets every two months during the school year to school communities in Delta Amacuro. WFP designed the programme, which includes providing the baskets and engaging with community members (in the local language) to discuss nutrition and their health. To reach schools in low-population areas that are accessible only by river, our teams use two boats, each with a 10-person seating capacity, per school. In areas with a larger population and higher level of need, we use larger-capacity boats that transport up to 40 metric tons of food.
The programme’s success is due to the hard work of local school principals and staff, families, and the WFP and International Medical Corps teams. Together, our teams engage with schools and families to assess logistical challenges and register people to receive nutritional assistance, which also gives our team an opportunity to establish relationships with community members.
Our work in Delta Amacuro shows how partnerships among humanitarian organisations, governments and local communities can transform lives and bring hope. In addition to nutritious food, our programme is a relief to parents, as they see their children getting essential food.
Delivering food to children and their families lays the foundation for a healthier and more prosperous future. To keep up to date on International Medical Corps’ work to help communities facing crisis around the world,
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