Norway increases aid to Haiti

The Government has proposed increased funding to Haiti in its revised budget for 2010.

The earthquake in Haiti on 12 January 2010 hit the country hard, in both human and economic terms. Norway wishes to support the reconstruction process in Haiti, with a view to helping the country become more robust and stable. In its revised budget, the Government has proposed additional funding for these efforts. 

“We are increasing our support for reconstruction after natural disasters by NOK 50 million. Some of these funds will be allocated to environmental, afforestation, agriculture and energy projects in Haiti. We are also increasing our funding to Haiti through international organisations,” Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim commented.  

Altogether, Norway has pledged NOK 800 million in aid to Haiti for the period up to 2014. 

In addition, the Government is increasing its humanitarian assistance by NOK 142 million under this year’s budget.  

“We know from experience that new natural disasters will hit the Horn of Africa, Asia and Latin America in the course of the year. So it’s important to set aside funds for dealing with acute crises,” Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said. 

The Government is also proposing to increase its funding for clean energy by NOK 88 million. These funds will help to promote hydroelectric power, solar power and wind power projects, for instance through increased public–private cooperation on investments in clean energy. 

The additional aid is to be financed by redistributions in the aid budget, in connection with reduced expenses for refugees  in Norway. 

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