Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced the government's decision to allocate 100 million Norwegian krone (approximately 8.7 million euros) to continue the medical evacuation program for Ukrainians affected by the war. The funding will be directed towards transporting severely injured individuals for treatment in Europe.
According to VG, Støre emphasized the importance of evacuating critically wounded patients, stating,
"We have an aircraft and crew with great international recognition to carry out this work."
He mentioned being in New York for the annual UN week, where he plans to discuss this initiative with international partners, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The medical evacuation program began in August 2022, utilizing a retrofitted SAS aircraft that functions as a flying intensive care unit. Initially, the agreement between Norway and the EU was set to expire in November, but it has now been extended until April of the following year.
Støre reported that half of the patients evacuated for treatment in Europe have flown on Norwegian aircraft. To date, 1,931 individuals have been evacuated, many suffering from cancer or severe war injuries, including burns and broken limbs. Approximately 400 patients have received treatment in Norway.
"The demand for this assistance remains high, and we will continue to act," the Norwegian Prime Minister concluded.
