Additional NOK 1 billion to Norwegian organisations for emergency relief efforts in Ukraine

‘Ukraine’s civilian population has suffered greatly as a result of Russia’s brutal war. Ukrainians are having to withstand daily attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. The country’s energy supply infrastructure is particularly vulnerable. The Ukrainian people need our help to make it through this third winter of war,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

Close to NOK 1 billion is now being provided for emergency relief efforts in Ukraine under the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine. The new funding will be channelled to the following Norwegian humanitarian organisations: Norwegian Red Cross, Norwegian Church Aid, Norwegian People’s Aid, Caritas Norway, Save the Children Norway, SOS Children’s Villages Norway, and the Norwegian Refugee Council and its civilian task force, NORCAP.

These seven Norwegian organisations are working hard to deliver assistance in cooperation with the Ukrainian authorities and Ukrainian civil society. Their efforts are helping to provide Ukrainians with access to the protection and life-saving assistance they need.

‘The role taken on by the Norwegian organisations together with the local authorities and local civil society organisations is impressive; they are the first to reach vulnerable groups, and to get to areas close to the front and those regained from Russian occupation,’ said Mr Eide.

However, the fact that humanitarian organisations have no access to millions of people in Russian-occupied areas who are also in need of help is cause for concern. It is essential to continue efforts to reach these people too.

‘Russia’s war of aggression is an attack on international law and our rules-based world order. It is in Norway’s core interests to defend international rules that promote compliance with international humanitarian law and respect for the humanitarian principles,’ said Mr Eide.

The UN estimates that over 14.6 million people in Ukraine are in need of humanitarian assistance. Some 3.7 million people are internally displaced and more than 6.2 million have fled from Ukraine and sought refuge in other countries due to Russia’s war. 

The funding now being provided will be used to deliver life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable people, children, refugees and the internally displaced, helping to ensure that they have access to food, shelter, electricity, heat, water and sanitation, education, health care and psychosocial support, as well as protection against sexual and gender-based violence. Norway is also increasing its support for efforts to clear mines and unexploded ordnance. This support is being provided under the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Norway has provided more than NOK 8 billion in humanitarian support to Ukraine and the refugee response in neighbouring countries.