Norway contributes NOK 11.2 million to UN efforts to combat bird flu

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is contributing a total of NOK 11.2 million to the UN efforts to prevent the spread of bird flu in Asia and from Asia to other parts of the world. It is vital that the spread of the virus is stopped in order to prevent bird flu from having serious humanitarian consequences.

“All countries have a collective responsibility for combating bird flu,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. “Norway is well prepared to deal with an outbreak of bird flu if one should occur. But it is important to intensify efforts to prevent the spread of the virus in developing countries as well.”

The Norwegian funds are being channelled through the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). NOK 6.5 million has already gone to efforts to stop the spread of the disease from East and Southeast Asia to other parts of the world, and NOK 4.7 million will now be used to help control and prevent bird flu in North Korea.

FAO fears that the virus may be spread by birds migrating to the Middle East and Africa. In countries where there is already a shortage of food, or where there are other serious difficulties, an outbreak of bird flu could have serious humanitarian consequences.