Norway announced US$1 million of assistance recently for the emergency relief efforts in disaster-affected areas.
“In this hard time of challenges and suffering, the Norwegian government and people want to reach out to a good close friend and demonstrate our strong solidarity,” Royal Norwegian Ambassador to Indonesia Ambassador Eivind S. Homme told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, who visited Indonesia recently, said that the tsunami that struck Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra, on Oct. 25 and the Mount Merapi eruptions had led to a great need for humanitarian assistance.
“Norway is therefore contributing $1million, which is being channeled through the Norwegian Red Cross to its Indonesian sister organization,” said Stoere in Jakarta on Monday.
He was referring to the Indonesian Red Cross.
Homme said the Norwegian funds would be used to support the emergency relief efforts and increase the capability of the Indonesian Red Cross to handle both disasters.