NORWEGIANS PLEDGE AID FOR GAZA, BUT STRESS ACCESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000003

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2019
TAGS: EAID PGOV PREL PHUM LE UNRWA NO
SUBJECT: NORWEGIANS PLEDGE AID FOR GAZA, BUT STRESS ACCESS
PROBLEMS

REF: SECSTATE 135559

Classified By: Political Counselor Kristen Bauer for reasons
1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) Poloff met with Ingrid Schoyen, Assistant Director
General of the Middle East Section of the MFA to deliver
reftel demarche on aid to Gaza. Norway pledged 30 million
kroner (approx $4.3 million) of aid to Gaza on December 30,
actually taking the decision prior to the flash appeal by the
UNRWA. Of the 30 million kroner, 10 million ($1.4 million)
is for UNRWA, 10 million ($1.4 million) to the WHO for Medeco
shipments, 5 million ($700,000) for NORWAC (a Norwegian NGO),
and 5 million ($700,000) to the ICRC. Schoyen was unwilling
to speculate on whether further aid to Gaza from the GON
would be forthcoming. According to Schoyen, NORWAC is
currently the only NGO with western surgeons operating in
Gaza.


ACCESS AND AN IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE
--------------


2. (C) Schoyen said that humanitarian access to Gaza was in
fact more important at this time than financial commitments,
and hoped that the USG would make this a clear priority when
seeking to influence the Israelis. Smiling, Schoyen
commented, "you can triple-underline the word 'access' if you
like," and mentioned specific concern about access by the
ICRC. Given the ground campaign, Schoyen emphasized the
importance of also establishing a safe passage corridor for
humanitarian supplies from the Israeli side. On the
political level, Schoyen said the GON is focused on achieving
a cease-fire agreement/resolution at the UN. No decision has
yet been taken on whether Foreign Minister Stoere will go to
NYC, but it is being actively discussed in the MFA.
WHITNEY