UNHCR 92nd meeting of the Standing Committee. Agenda Item 3a VII - Regional update on operations in Europe. Norway. (11.03.2025)
STATEMENT
UNHCR Standing Committee: 92nd Session, 11-13 March 2025
3a, VII - Regional update on operations in Europe
Statement by Norway
Check against delivery
12 March 2025
We thank the UNHCR for your update on operations in Europe.
We align ourselves with the statements delivered by Poland on behalf of European likeminded states.
Norway continues to condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s continued illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. More than ever, we stand together with our allies in supporting Ukraine as it exercises its right of self-defense.
The war has dramatic consequences. We call again on Russia to comply with international law, cease all hostilities and facilitate urgent, safe, and unimpeded access for humanitarian actors to assist civilians in need, at the frontline and in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine. Norway, as one of the largest humanitarian donors to Ukraine and affected neighbors, will continue its support through the five-year Nansen Support Program. The Program was established to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom, and includes both military and civilian support. The program has been extended to 2030 and includes refugee response to neighboring countries, where Moldova is a particular priority. Last week, the Norwegian Government again decided to increase the Norwegian support to Ukraine – we more than doubled our support for 2025
Norway will continue to provide high levels of humanitarian funding. The multi-year support programme for Ukraine gives us a framework that allows for predictable and flexible funding. It also gives room for support to refugee response in neighboring countries. It allows both short and more longer-term planning, and enables us to plan the different efforts in a comprehensive way. For us, this is an example of working along the lines of the nexus approach.
The humanitarian response in Ukraine is at a crossroads. We remain deeply concerned by the downward trend in humanitarian funding. At the same time, we see that there is more willingness than ever to work in a coordinated and
coherent manner, and to explore complementarity between the assistance given by the Government, the UN, the ICRC and the NGOs. The Ukrainian Civil Society plays a crucial role in this respect.
In Ukraine, the national actors play a much more important role than in most humanitarian contexts, and for instance, the Ukrainian Red Cross and Caritas organizations are crucial in humanitarian program implementation.
Norway commends the tireless work of UNHCR and its partners for rapidly scaling up your response and provision for live-saving activities. Supporting the Ukrainian government in protecting and assisting those who are displaced in Ukraine must continue. We also commend UNHCR for working closely with Ukrainian Civil Society. This approach allows you to be able to respond quickly and adjust to rapidly shifting needs.
We also welcome UNHCR’s support for early recovery, working in complementarity with development actors such as the UNDP to foster durable solutions, supporting local economic recovery and access to protection and services in line with the Government of Ukraine’s priorities and plans.
Thank you.