Norway allocates EUR 8,7 million for evacuation and treatment of Ukrainians in Europe
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Getty Images)
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced the government's decision to allocate 100 million Norwegian kroner (approximately 8.7 million euros) to continue the medical evacuation program for Ukrainians affected by the war. The funding will be directed toward transporting severely injured individuals for treatment in Europe, citing VG.
"It is very important to evacuate some severely injured individuals for treatment. We have an aircraft and a crew with high international recognition to carry out this work," Støre said.
He added that he is currently in New York for the annual UN week, where he plans to discuss this initiative with international partners, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The medical evacuation program began in August 2022. Injured individuals are transported on a modified SAS aircraft, which operates as an airborne intensive care unit. Initially, the agreement between Norway and the EU was set to expire in November, but it has now been extended until April of the following year.
According to Støre, half of the patients evacuated for treatment in Europe have flown on Norwegian aircraft. To date, this includes 1,931 individuals, many of whom are suffering from cancer or have sustained serious injuries in the war, including burns and limb fractures. Approximately 400 patients have received treatment in Norway.
"The demand for this assistance remains high, and we continue to act," said the Norwegian Prime Minister.
Norway's assistance to Ukraine
Since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Norway has become one of the key international partners providing significant military aid to the Ukrainian armed forces. In particular, Oslo has supplied Kyiv with various types of weapons, including anti-tank missile systems, ammunition, bulletproof vests, helmets, and other military equipment.
In June, Norway allocated 1.1 billion kroner for the restoration of energy infrastructure damaged by Russian shelling. In September, the amount of assistance increased, with 570 million kroner directed toward the purchase of drones and air defense systems.
