Norway provides an additional 390 million kroner to people affected by corona crisis in Sahel
The humanitarian crisis in the Sahel has intensified as a result of COVID-19, among other things.
The funding was confirmed by Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide (H) at a digital donor country conference organized by the UN, Denmark, Germany, and the EU on Tuesday.
The support will last from 2020 to 2022.
“A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in the central Sahel, which is growing rapidly in scope, and which is largely overlooked.
“Norway is therefore helping to mobilize greater international involvement and strengthened humanitarian efforts to prevent the situation from deteriorating further,” Eriksen Søreide said.
Increased risk
The humanitarian and security situation in the central Sahel has deteriorated significantly in recent years, and the region is in danger of becoming a so-called forgotten crisis.
According to the Foreign Ministry, 13 million people in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are in need of emergency humanitarian assistance, and 1.4 million people have been displaced from their homes.
The NOK 390 million includes an additional allocation of NOK 111 million from the humanitarian budget for 2020.
At the same time, the humanitarian support of at least NOK 100 million annually for the next two years will be maintained.
Additionally, there is a new contribution of close to NOK 79 million for efforts in peace, food security, and education.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
