Norway to provide $10 in assistance to Afghanistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): Norwegian foreign ministry has said it would provide nearly $10 million in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

Norwegian foreign ministry in a statement said that Afghanistan is faced with serious humanitarian crisis and for that reason the Norway government would increase its assistance to the country.

AnnikenHuitfeldt, foreign affairs minister of Norway, said: “The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is alarming. Norway is therefore now increasing its humanitarian aid to Afghanistan by NOK 86 million. The support will be channeled through Norwegian humanitarian organizations.”

She said that the aid would be also used for strengthening protection of children by improving health services for them.

“The civilian population of Afghanistan is in need of assistance during these difficult winter months. Norwegian humanitarian partners are providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people in the form of protection, food, and medical help,” the source said.

The statement said, “The extra allocation of NOK 86 million in humanitarian support will be channeled through the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Norwegian Red Cross, Norwegian Church Aid, Save the Children Norway and Norcap.”

Norway has previously also provided humanitarian assistance to needy families and for education in Afghanistan.

Norwegian envoy to Afghanistan earlier had discussed with Afghan education minister about girls education.

About a month back, Norway invited acting Afghan foreign minister to Oslo where he met with Norwegian authorities as well as Afghan civil society activists, representatives of EU and US. The visit had promising results.

The UN has earlier said that around 24 million people in Afghanistan faced starvation and asked the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country.

mds/ma

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