This article examines the prevalence of food insecurity among Venezuelan migrants in Trinidad and Tobago and identifies the socio-demographic characteristics associated with food insecurity. As of 2018, there were almost 6,500 Venezuelans in need of international protection registered by UNHCR in Trinidad and Tobago. Unofficial estimates suggest that Trinidad and Tobago hosts over 40,000 Venezuelan migrants.
The analysis is based on data from an online survey disseminated in April and May 2020 through email and WhatsApp, covering a sample of 433 migrants. The survey included questions on the sociodemographic and economic characteristics of the respondents, as well as their experiences of food insecurity using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES).
The majority (67 percent) of participants were female. Approximately half of the participants lived in more urbanized areas of Trinidad, including Tunapuna-Piarco Municipality, Borough of Chaguanas, and Diego Martin. Most were employed (55 percent), paying rent (96 percent), and belonging to households consisting of 3-5 members (57 percent). A minority had chronic illnesses (14 percent). More than one-fifth (22 percent) earned a monthly income of 75–150 USD, while more than two-fifths (41 percent) worked 3–5 days each week.
Main empirical results:
- A high proportion of Venezuelan migrants in Trinidad and Tobago were affected by food insecurity. Sixty-two percent of Venezuelan migrants experienced severe food insecurity.
- Employed migrants were less likely to be food insecure, while those paying rent were more likely to be food insecure. Employed migrants were less likely to experience severe food insecurity compared to unemployed migrants, but a sizable proportion of employed migrants still experienced severe food insecurity. Migrants who paid rent were more likely to be food insecure compared to those who did not pay rent.
- Other socio-demographic and economic characteristics assessed were not significantly associated with migrants’ food security status. There were no significant differences in food security status based on gender, location of residence, number of working days, monthly income, household size, and presence of chronic illnesses.
The authors show that most Venezuelan migrants in Trinidad and Tobago experienced severe food insecurity. They find that employed migrants were less likely to experience severe food insecurity compared to unemployed migrants, but severe food insecurity is still common among employed migrants. They attribute this result to the quality and type of employment that migrants are engaged in. Informal and insecure employment, which is common among migrants, often results in insufficient funds for purchasing food.