Humanitarian Efforts

“As we speak, every single day, 5000 Syrians cross the border into neighboring countries”, Ambassador Pedersen said in a panel discussion on forced migration. The majority of these migrants are women and children. In 2012 72 million people were forced to leave their homes, according to the World Disasters Report 2012. Read more

“I congratulate Elisabeth Rasmusson on getting this job. The World Food Programme saves lives. It brings food to people suffering from need, war and famine. We need more Norwegians who are willing to take on challenging international tasks,” International Development Minister Heikki Eidsvoll Holmås commented. Read more

The situation for the people in Syria and for Syrian refugees in the neighbouring countries continues to deteriorate. At a donor conference in Kuwait yesterday, Norway committed itself to an additional contribution of NOK 210 million for humanitarian assistance to Syria. Read more

UN Secretary-General appointed Norway's Susan Eckey as new Advisory Group Member for the United Nations humanitarian fund, CERF. Read more

Sudanese authorities in Khartoum released Norwegian mine clearing expert John Sørbø and three others on Sunday May 20th after holding him for about three weeks. Read more

Norway will begin work on lifting the Norwegian sanctions against Myanmar with the exception of the ban on arms exports and military cooperation. Read more

“The global financial crisis is hitting people in need hard. The Government is therefore increasing its humanitarian contribution by NOK 183 million (appx USD 31.1), to a total of NOK 2.2 billion (appx USD 0.4) in 2012,” commented Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

During a mini-summit on famine in the Horn of Africa, Norwegian State Secretary Espen Barth Eide announced that Norway has made an additional NOK 300 million (USD 52 million) available to the UN, Red Cross and other organizations that are present in the worst affected areas. Read more

Norwegian Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim has visited Dabaab, one of Kenya’s many refugee camps for victims of the food crisis. He is seriously concerned about the situation in the Horn of Africa. Read more

The 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Norwegian polar explorer, scientist and humanitarian, Fridtjof Nansen, was honored in New York with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as guest of honour and the former UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland as keynote speaker. Read more

“Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes because of climate-related natural disasters. We have a collective responsibility to address this challenge,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

On World Refugee Day 2011, Norway celebrates Fridtjof Nansen. As the world's first High Commissioner for Refugees, Nansen saved the lives of countless thousands through his humanitarian work after World War One. Read more

“I am concerned about the deteriorating access to food and medicines in the Gaddafi-controlled parts of Libya. This is severely affecting the civilian population, and we must stand ready to provide assistance,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

In response to the humanitarian crisis in Côte d’Ivoire, Norway will provide an additional USD 5.5 million (NOK 30 million) in emergency assistance. The increase in aid was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

The recorded number of people displaced within their country due to conflict or violence rose to 27.5 million in 2010. Read more

“We are deeply concerned about the situation in Côte d’Ivoire and neighbouring countries. Therefore, we are providing 3,5 million USD in emergency relief through the UN, the Red Cross system and the Norwegian Refugee Council,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

At a High-Level Conference in New York on Monday, Norway announced its contribution of NOK 325 million (USD 53 million) to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for 2011. “We are pleased that Norway is in a position to be able to make a significant contribution to helping those in need worldwide,” Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre remarked. Read more

His Royal Highness The Crown Prince of Norway, took part in a discussion on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in crisis contexts. HRH Crown Prince Haakon was joined by UNDP's Administrator, Rt. Hon. Helen Clark and Greg Mortenson, author of "Three Cups of Tea" and founder of the Central Asia Institute. Read more

Norway will increase its assistance for the flood victims in Pakistan to USD 66 million. The situation is critical, and the number of victims keeps rising. The floods are the worst ever in the history of Pakistan. Read more

“It’s important that the emergency aid for flood victims in Pakistan pays special attention to the needs of women and children,” Norway's State Secretary for International Development, Ingrid Fiskaa, stressed at the UN on August 19, 2010. She was taking part in the special session of the UN General Assembly on the emergency response to the flood disaster in Pakistan. Read more