UNITED NATIONS, United States — The number of children who are affected by the Venezuelan crisis and who will need humanitarian aid this year is expected to more than double to reach 1.1 million, up from nearly 500,000, the UN children's agency said Thursday.

The figure includes children uprooted from Venezuela, those who have returned and others in host and transit communities across Latin America and the Caribbean, said a UNICEF statement.

The latest estimate highlighted expectations among aid agencies that the political crisis in Venezuela will worsen in the coming months, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation of children and families.

UNICEF called on governments in the region to uphold the rights of children and ensure they have access to essential services.

An internal UN report said seven million people -- about 24 percent of Venezuela's population -- are in need of humanitarian aid, lacking access to food and medical care.

The UN Security Council is expected to meet next week at the request of the United States to discuss Venezuela's humanitarian crisis. — AFP