The funding will be used to help provide services such as health care, shelter, psychosocial support, food, water and meet other essential needs…reports Asian Lite News
Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store announced Tuesday that his country will provide 350 million Norwegian kroner (32.35 million U.S. dollars) to support the work of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in Ukraine.
To be channeled through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the funding will be used to help provide services such as health care, shelter, psychosocial support, food, water and meet other essential needs for the population in Ukraine, the prime minister said at a meeting with Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society Maksym Dotsenko.
“The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is providing invaluable support to Ukraine. The Red Cross staff and volunteers are demonstrating tremendous courage in their efforts to save lives and alleviate suffering every single day,” said Store.
The United Nations estimates that 12 million people inside Ukraine need relief and protection, while more than 4 million Ukrainian refugees need protection and assistance in neighboring countries.
Earlier, in August this year, Norway had decided to donate US-made F-16 combat aircraft to Ukraine. F-16s have been on Ukraine’s wish list for a long time because of their destructive power and global availability. The fighter jet is equipped with a 20mm cannon and can carry bombs, rockets and missiles.
“We are planning to donate Norwegian F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, and will provide further details about the donation, numbers and time frame for delivery, in due course,” Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere has said in a statement.
Stoere had met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv and announced donations of anti-aircraft missiles and other equipment. “The donation of these F-16 jets will significantly strengthen Ukraine’s military capabilities,” Norway’s Defence Minister Bjoern Arild Gram had said in the statement.