Key facts
- Norway is increasing humanitarian support for deported Ukrainian children, detained civilians, and prisoners of war.
- The funding will be channeled through UNICEF and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
- Norway allocated 15 million crowns ($1.6 million) to UNICEF for child reintegration and tracing missing children.
- An additional 10 million crowns was allocated to the ICRC's Central Tracing Agency Bureau.
- Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide stated that many Ukrainian children are in Russia after being unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred.
- Canada, Norway, and Ukraine are co-hosting a ministerial conference on the topic in Toronto.
Norway announced on Tuesday that it is increasing its humanitarian support for deported Ukrainian children, detained civilians, and prisoners of war. The Nordic country will channel the aid through UNICEF and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide stated that the funds aim to draw attention to human rights violations perpetrated by Russia in Ukraine, noting that many Ukrainian children are in Russia after being unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred. The funding will assist in tracing missing persons, supporting efforts to bring people home, and aiding rehabilitation and reintegration.
Specifically, 15 million Norwegian crowns ($1.6 million) have been earmarked for UNICEF's work supporting the reintegration of children who have returned to Ukraine and tracing missing children. Another 10 million crowns have been allocated to the ICRC's Central Tracing Agency Bureau.
This week, Canada is hosting a ministerial conference on the topic in Toronto, co-hosted by Norway and Ukraine.