The emergency aid contribution is part of the Nansen program and was announced during a visit to Ukraine by Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap).
The foreign minister is speaking on the phone from Odessa, a port city in southern Ukraine.
– In Odessa, a lot of aid sent by Norway meets, he says NTB.
Here, Eide met, among others, the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Navy. The Coast Guard of Ukraine is located in the southern port city. Additionally, Odessa is the most important export port for grain. Much of the world's grain comes from Ukraine, making grain exports very important to the country.
Part of the 745 million from Norway agrees to increase food production in Ukraine, Eide says.
– Also humanitarian actor
World Food Program (WFP) Norway will receive NOK 170 million in aid package now.
– The new allocation is timely and enables WFP to continue its important work with the Ministry of Social Affairs, providing immediate support to more than half a million vulnerable elderly and disabled people affected by this devastating war, says Marianne Ward, WFP Country Director. Ukraine.
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The UN estimates that nearly 15 million people, roughly 40 percent of Ukraine's population, are in need of humanitarian assistance.
Through the support of the UN, the Ukrainian Humanitarian Land Fund and the Red Cross Movement, Norway contributes to the financing of local Ukrainian organizations and the National Association of the Red Cross in Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs writes in a press release.
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Eide says the money is distributed somewhat differently for work on identifying missing and abducted children.
– This is an important collection. We want to remind you that in addition to military aid, Norway is a civilian and humanitarian actor in Ukraine, says Eide.
Funding for Moldova
Moldova, Ukraine's southwestern neighbor, has been given particular priority in the new aid package.
Moldova is one of the countries that receive the most refugees relative to the country's population. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 6.3 million people have fled Ukraine.
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– This is a country and government trying to steer a course towards the West, but experiencing pressure from Russia, Aid says.
He points out that Moldova is close to war in Ukraine because the country is remote, but pro-Russian circles occupy parts of the country.
– It is important to support Moldova no matter what, but it is also important to see the country in the light of what is happening in Ukraine – the war between Western democratic values and Russia's military regime, says the foreign minister.
On Tuesday evening, Ede continues its journey from Odessa to Moldova. He will meet Moldovan President Mia Sandu on Wednesday.
More military equipment
In Tuesday's meeting with the Navy chief, he and Ede discussed how to build coastal defenses — with Great Britain's help.
– What they achieve is very impressive, he says, but emphasizes that Ukraine needs more air defense.
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Earlier in the day, Ede was in the capital, Kyiv. There he met with both President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
At a joint press conference with Kuleba, he said that Ukraine does not have enough of anyone, but that Norway and many other countries are still looking for opportunities to provide better military equipment.
Ukraine is requesting air defense equipment, including the Norwegian NASAMS system and the American Patriot.
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