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Last updated: 03/05/2012 // Palestinian Prime Minister and Finance Minister Dr Salam Fayyad and Mrs. Ola Awad the President of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics signed on Thursday 26. April a Memorandum of Understanding between the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) and the representatives of the Core Funding Group represented by the Representative of Norway to the Palestinian Authority Mr. Hans Jacob Frydenlund and the Representative of Switzerland to the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Roland Steininger.

The Ad Hoc Liason Committee (AHLC) for assistance to the Palestinians met today in Brussels, and confirmed the international community’s continued support for economic development and reforms in the Palestinian Territory. The Palestinians are now facing major economic challenges. “We have a collective responsibility to make sure that the Palestinian state-building project is continued, so that a foundation is laid for a Palestinian state,” Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre said.

Last updated: 02/03/2012 // From Senegal in the west to Eritrea in the east, people are on the brink of a major disaster. Norway is therefore providing NOK 50 million to help those affected by the drought and ensuing food crisis.

In the 12 countries that stretch across Africa – the Sahel – there is a lack of both food and water. Less rainfall in 2011 has led to lower crop yields, a lack of food and higher prices on the food that is available.

Today, Norway transferred NOK 240 million in budget support to the Palestinian Authority (PA). Norway is one of the first donor countries to transfer its contribution for 2012.

Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who met the Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in Ramallah today, commented, “This funding will be used to implement the National Development Plan. It is an important contribution that will help the PA to maintain vital services to the Palestinian people, such as education, health and security services.”

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Later this month, member states of the 2008 Cluster Munitions Convention have the chance to demonstrate how seriously they take the hard won international ban on cluster munitions. During the upcoming Review Conference on the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), states might decide on a new legal instrument that could undermine existing international humanitarian law.

Last updated: 02/11/2011 // The Norwegian Embassy in Colombo has contributed NOK 3 million (approximately Rs. 57 million) to support the International Organisation for Migration’s (IOM) programme that is assisting reintegration and reconciliation of former LTTE cadres into their own society.

A signing ceremony between Norwegian Ambassador Hilde Haraldstad and IOM Chief of Mission Mr. Richard Danziger took place on 02 November at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo.

Press release, 28.10.2011

The Government is working with the Norwegian Red Cross to help the victims of the earthquake in Turkey, by providing tents, blankets and other emergency relief.

Norway is also providing funds for buying food, medicines and other emergency relief supplies that will help 50 000 people in need. The earthquake in Turkey has caused massive destruction. Norway and the Norwegian Red Cross are sending 355 tents and 18 000 blankets for people in urgent need of assistance.