Norway to contribute NOK 26 million to the fight against bird and human flu

Norway will contribute an additional NOK 26 million to efforts to prevent and combat bird and human flu. The contribution was announced today at an international donors’ conference in Beijing, China. This is in addition to the NOK 25.2 million that was provided at the end of last year. The participants at the conference have pledged a total of USD 1.9 billion, far more than was expected.

“The fight against bird flu is putting the world community’s ability to take joint action to the test. But the conference in Beijing gives grounds for optimism,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. “I am very pleased that it has been possible to mobilise so much money for the global fight against bird and human flu,” he said. This issue was also on the agenda of Mr Støre’s meeting with the Director-General of WHO in Geneva on Monday.

One thousand representatives from more than half the countries of the world have been gathered in Beijing over the last two days. The purpose of the conference was to raise funds for the global fight against bird and human flu and agree on a financial framework to coordinate the joint efforts at global, regional and national level.

“The conference shows that international cooperation in the fight against infectious diseases is not just a question of solidarity, but is also important for national security,” said Mr Støre.

The conference was arranged by China, the World Bank and the EU Commission in cooperation with the UN. Both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Care Services and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food were represented. Norway will consider the possibility of contributing more funds to the fight against bird flu through UN efforts later this year.