NORWAY CONFIRMS DOUBLING OF AID TO $35 MILLION

UNCLAS OSLO 000039 SIPDIS FOR STACY WILLIAMS, WHA/CAR, HAITI TASKFORCE ONE (MELISSA ROUSSER),AND USAID (MAURA O'NEILL) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV PREL PREF HA NO SUBJECT: NORWAY CONFIRMS DOUBLING OF AID TO $35 MILLION REF: 10 OSLO 26 ¶1. As foreshadowed in reftel, the Government of Norway announced on Sunday, January 24 that it will be doubling its aid to Haiti from 100 million kroner ($17.5 million) to 200 million kroner ($35 million). The press release from the office of Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg (translated by post; English version not yet online) follows: Begin text: Norway's humanitarian aid to Haiti doubles to 200 million kroner "Haiti's people continue to need our help. The UN has so far only received half of what it has requested. Therefore, we are doubling Norway's contribution to the emergency aid operation on Haiti," said Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. "The aid work is thankfully continuing full steam ahead and many have received help. But we must continue to contribute so that the aid won't stop and so that we can reach out to even more people." The UN and a range of humanitarian organizations from around the world are supporting Haiti. Aircraft capacity, other logistic coordination, and coordination of initiatives are ongoing. Food, medicines, and aid personnel are continuing to arrive. The security situation continues to be stable despite episodes of looting and violence. The UN's initiatives are, among other things, attempting to get people back to work. The mobilization of Haiti's population in the aid work is important and it is important that local groups participate. "The protection of women and children is especially important. We know that already-marginalized groups become even more vulnerable after natural catastrophes. The Norwegian contributions go to the UN's and other aid groups' work on this issue," said the Prime Minister. The increase in Norwegian aid by 100 million kroner ($17.5 million) will be channeled through the UN, the Red Cross, and other humanitarian organizations. Among other agencies, this aid will benefit UNICEF, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNHCR and UNFPA, which work on protecting women's and mothers' health. End text. WHITE