Norway increasing support to Norwegian organizations for efforts for Ukraine
Press release | Date: 14/11/2023 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Norway is now providing NOK 1 billion to the Norwegian Red Cross, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Norwegian Church Aid, Norwegian People’s Aid, Caritas Norway, Save the Children Norway and the civilian task force, NORCAP, under the Norwegian Refugee Council.
‘Ukrainians are facing another cold winter as the war continues. Some 18 million people are in need of humanitarian aid. Russia’s brutal war of aggression against the Ukrainian people shows no sign of abating,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.
The Foreign Minister has emphasised that Norway will continue to allocate funding under the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine to provide emergency aid and protection for millions of Ukrainians who are living under extremely difficult conditions.
The funds will be used to secure shelter for those who have lost their homes, and to ensure access to food, water, sanitation, education, health care and psychological support as well as civilian protection. Norway is also stepping up efforts to clear mines and unexploded ordnance.
‘Our Norwegian humanitarian partners are doing an invaluable job of ensuring that emergency aid reaches those in need. Cooperation with Ukrainian partners also helps to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience and prevents further deterioration in the humanitarian situation,’ said Mr Eide.
The UN estimates that approximately 18 million people in Ukraine are in need of humanitarian assistance. Some 5 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.
Norway is one of the world’s largest humanitarian donors. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Norway has provided more than NOK 4.5 billion in humanitarian support to Ukraine and the refugee response in neighbouring countries. The humanitarian funding is channelled through the UN, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Norwegian and international humanitarian organisations.
The Norwegian humanitarian organisations now receiving additional funding have multi-year strategic partnership agreements with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The funds are allocated under the five-year Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine, which is administered by Norad.