Caritas are disappointed that the Government is once again breaking its promise that 1% of our income will go to aid. We are also disappointed that Norway, once again, is the second largest recipient of Norwegian aid funds.

Caritas works both with international aid and for refugees in Norway. "We are pleased to see more funding for refugees in Norway, but it is deeply problematic that this is being charged to the aid budget, which has poverty reduction internationally as its main purpose," says Ingrid Rosendorf Joys, Secretary General of Caritas Norway.

The "budget winners" in the 2025 aid budget are Ukraine and Norway, which receive 21.8% of the total aid. In Norway, the costs related to refugee costs in Norwegian municipalities are largely caused by the war in Ukraine. Caritas recognizes that Norwegian municipalities make an invaluable effort in safeguarding and settling people seeking refuge from war and persecution.

In practice, it is the most vulnerable in the world who pay for our solidarity with the people of Ukraine. There is no doubt that supporting Ukraine is the right thing to do and should be further increased, but it is highly problematic that it is done at the expense of people with even greater humanitarian needs," says Joys.

Caritas are pleased that the pot for food security will be increased by around NOK 200 million.

"The fight against hunger and for a sustainable food system is crucial if we are to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2. This is all we need, given that the needs are so great and Norwegian incomes so high," says Joys.

The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are causing enormous suffering and a catastrophic increase in humanitarian needs. They are part of a global trend of multiple conflicts that have forced 117 million people to flee their homesincluding Sudan where now 25 million people are dependent on emergency response to survive as a result of the civil war that broke out in April 2023.

It is totally incomprehensible that Norway once again chooses to break its promise of the 1% target at a time characterized by so many crises, while at the same time benefiting economically from these crises through increased energy prices and increased production of military equipment. Norway is known as a beacon of international solidarity. But this budget proposal sends very negative signals to the most vulnerable who are hardest hit by hunger, climate change and economic crises," says Joys.

The gap between humanitarian needs and humanitarian funding is widening. In the first half of 2024 only 16% of the need was covered..

Humanitarian response saves lives and funding must reflect the needs, but only policies can solve humanitarian crises. "We need a massive investment in conflict prevention, conflict mitigation and conflict resolution. Unfortunately, this is not at all reflected in the budget," says Caritas Norway's Secretary General.

At the same time, we are pleased that the government is emphasizing the links between emergency response, long-term aid and peace work. It is therefore strange that Norway is cutting the peace and reconciliation item by a significant amount in an already modest allocation.

For further comments:

• Secretary General Ingrid R. Joys, telephone 402 15 132
• Head of Foreign Affairs Tale Hungnes, phone 958 33 431