Norway will expand its humanitarian support to Iraq by 50 million NOK.
Thus, the Norwegian support to the country is up to 325 million, said Foreign Minister Børge Brende before he will attend an international donor conference for Iraq in Washington DC on Wednesday.
– I hope others will follow same steps, said Brende to news agency NTB.
– He added that the humanitarian needs are increasing and operators have only received a third of the support funds that are necessary.
The Norwegian funds are covered by the Foreign Ministry’s humanitarian budget.
UN and aid agencies believe there is a need for 861 million US dolors, roughly 7.3 billion Norwegian kroner, to support Iraq but donors have only pledged for 36 percent of this amount. The organizations have warned that lifesaving aid will be suspended if it does not come more money.
United States, together with Canada, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands and Germany initiated the donor meeting for Iraq to increase support.
Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today
