Norway to allocate US$9.5 million for evacuation of wounded from Ukraine to Europe
Norway will allocate NOK 100 million (about US$9.5 million) to continue the mission to evacuate seriously wounded Ukrainians for treatment in Europe.
As reported byVG, a Norwegian tabloid newspaper, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said it is very important to transport some seriously wounded for treatment.
"We have an aircraft and crew with great international recognition to do this job," Jonas Gahr Støre said.
VG noted that since August 2022, a converted SAS aircraft, a kind of flying intensive care unit, has been flying wounded from Ukraine to other European countries for treatment. The agreement between Norway and the EU was due to expire in November.
However, Norway has now decided to extend the agreement until April next year, at a cost of up to NOK 100 million (about US$9.5 million).
"Unfortunately, demand is still high. That is why we are extending it," Jonas Gahr Støre said.
Jonas Gahr Støre said almost half of those flown out of Ukraine for inpatient treatment were evacuated by Norwegian planes, amounting to 1,931 patients.
Jonas Gahr Støre said that many of the patients have cancer, wounds, severe burns and broken limbs. They are being flown to Poland, from where they will be transported to hospitals across Europe. Around 400 patients on board the Norwegian Medevac aircraft were treated in Norway.
The Norwegian government has allocated an additional NOK 570 million (€48.28 million) to the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU) to purchase drones and air defence equipment.
Norway has previously contributed to the purchase of air defence equipment, mine clearance equipment, artillery ammunition, vehicles, engineering machinery, cranes, spare parts and equipment for the maintenance of Ukrainian platforms and small boats.
It was reported that the Norwegian arms company Nammo would grant a licence to Ukraine to produce 155-mm artillery shells.
On 20 September, the Norwegian government proposed increasing support for Ukraine by NOK 5 billion (about €430 million) this year and providing at least NOK 15 billion (about €1.3 billion) a year until 2030.