– The most vulnerable are still inside Ukraine, says Minister of Development Anne Beate Tvinnereim. On Tuesday, Norway will send 20 tonnes of equipment into the country.
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In the boxes at the Red Cross’ emergency aid warehouse at Bring at Skedsmokorset, there are 1,800 first aid kits, 762 first aid bags and over 1,000 first aid suitcases.
They contain, among other things, baby blankets, diapers, soap, camp beds, hot air units, wheelchairs and medicines.
– Europe is facing the biggest refugee crisis since World War II, and we are able to help. With this, we get assistance quickly in and out of Ukraine, says Minister of Development Anne Beate Tvinnereim (Sp) to NTB.
– There is a great focus on the refugees who have managed to get out of Ukraine, but the most vulnerable are still inside Ukraine, the minister points out.
On Sunday afternoon, Tvinnereim visited the warehouse together with Minister of Justice Emilie Enger Mehl (Sp).
1 of 3Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB
Shipped via Romania
According to the Red Cross, one of the aid organizations with crews on the ground in Ukraine, the need for first aid and medical equipment, especially for newborns, is enormous.
Secretary General Bernt G. Apeland of the Norwegian Red Cross, who is behind the collection, says they hope to get the equipment in place in Ukraine during the week. It will first be shipped down to Romania, before being distributed to the Red Cross inside Ukraine.
–It is not without risk.
– There is always risk in a conflict zone, but this is what the Red Cross is doing, and we have an ongoing dialogue with the parties so that we can ensure that those who transport the equipment are not attacked, says Apeland to TV 2.
Happy progress
The government has allocated NOK 350 million for the Red Cross’ relief work. This is part of the 2 billion Norway has set aside for humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
Tvinnereim says the government has not finished distributing the support and makes ongoing assessments of where the money will go.
– This money went to the Red Cross, which is now in the process of getting things into Ukraine. It goes fast, and it’s good to see, she says.
Watch video: Here Russian forces attack Ukrainian apartments
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