Norway offers financial aid to Iraq in times of crisis

Oslo, June 19: The Norwegian government has offered

60 million Norwegian kroner (about $10 million) as financial aid to the war-torn country, a media report said on Thursday.

"The acute emergency needs in Iraq must be addressed quickly. In the first instance there is a need for food, water, shelter, healthcare and protection to the civilian population," Xinhua quoted Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende as saying.

The recent attacks in Iraq have displaced 5,00,000 people from their homes. About 3,00,000 Iraqis have fled to the Kurdish areas in the country.

Preliminary estimates from the UN show that the number of displaced people could reach one million if the conflict spreads to other major cities, the Norwegian foreign ministry said in a statement.

"It is essential that the parties fully respect international humanitarian law on the protection of civilians and access for humanitarian aid," Brende said.

IANS