This baseline review establishes a comprehensive picture of Venezuela’s political, economic, humanitarian, displacement, and operational environment as it existed before January 2026. The purpose of this report is to share insights into the pre-existing conditions, creating a reference framework against which subsequent developments can be assessed and analyzed. By focusing exclusively on credible evidence published before January 2026, the assessment captures the pre-existing structural vulnerabilities, humanitarian concerns, and systemic challenges that shaped Venezuela’s crisis, including the scale and persistence of its displacement dynamics. As such, this report serves as a foundational overview of the operating environment in Venezuela before recent shifts, providing critical context for understanding how evolving political and governance conditions may influence humanitarian needs, protection risks, and response capacities going forward
