Norway and Cuba cooperate on emergency relief

Today Norway and Cuba signed an agreement that will make NOK 5 million available for health cooperation in Haiti following the earthquake disaster.

“Norway wants to support the lifesaving work Cuban doctors are doing in Haiti. The money will be used to purchase much needed equipment and medicines for the Cuban medical personnel,” said Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim.

More than 330 Cuban doctors and other health workers were living in Haiti when the earthquake struck. They immediately started to give the victims medical care. Already the day after the disaster, more doctors and health care personnel arrived from Cuba. Many of these had experience from earthquake disasters, for example in Pakistan and China.

“Doctors and other health workers are working in extreme conditions in Haiti today. The cooperation between Norway and Cuba will help them to continue their lifesaving work,” said Mr Solheim.

For many years, Cuba has played an important role in Haiti’s health care. Cuban doctors and other medical personnel are working in all parts of the country. More than 500 Haitian doctors have been trained in Cuba at no cost.

Representatives of the Norwegian Embassy in Havana and the Cuban authorities signed the agreement today.

So far, Norway has provided NOK 100 million for immediate emergency relief in Haiti.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dedicated a page on its website to answering the most frequently asked questions about the aid Norway has provided in response to the earthquake disaster in Haiti.

Press Duty Officer, international development: 91 39 50 00 (no sms text messages)