Khmara postpones visits to Germany and Norway due to intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine

On September 29, Norway announced it would boost its humanitarian aid to Ukraine, committing $2.6 million to programs overseen by UNICEF and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The assistance aims to aid Ukrainian children who have been deported, prisoners of war (POWs), and detained civilians.

Norwegian officials allocated 15 million Norwegian kroner ($1.5 million) to help UNICEF reintegrate previously deported Ukrainian children and locate those still missing. This funding is part of Norway's existing $13.7 million contribution to UNICEF's humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Furthermore, an additional 10 million Norwegian kroner ($1 million) was directed to the ICRC's Central Tracing Agency Bureau (CTA) to trace missing military personnel and civilians, and to support families of detained or missing individuals.

Norway also pledged an extra 90 million kroner ($9.3 million) to the ICRC's broader humanitarian initiatives in Ukraine. The country's support reflects Norway's commitment to addressing the violations of international humanitarian law and human rights resulting from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide emphasized the importance of continuing to draw attention to these violations and supporting Ukrainians affected by the ongoing conflict.

Since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, Norway has contributed over $104 million to UNICEF's work in Ukraine, with $8.3 million specifically allocated to returning unlawfully deported Ukrainian children from Russia. Additionally, Norway has provided over $104 million to the ICRC, including $4.1 million for the organization's Central Tracing Agency efforts.