Foreign Ministry supports the aid of the Finnish Red Cross to Libya

Press release 65/2011
25 February 2011

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen has decided to grant 150,000 euros to the Finnish Red Cross for humanitarian relief efforts owing to the crisis in Libya. The International Committee of the Red Cross, the ICRC, is providing aid to victims of the crisis by sending assessment delegates, surgical groups and medical supplies to the region.

The Finnish Red Cross has today sent three workers to Tunisia, and if needed, additional personnel will be available later.

The Finns, together with the ICRC aid team, will enter Libya as soon as it is possible to cross the border. Aid supplies for hospital use will also be provided. The International Red Cross also strives to support the authorities in the Mediterranean area as they receive refugees and migrants. Over 6,000 refugees and migrants have, for example, arrived in Malta on evacuation ships.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is also prepared to grant additional aid for the relief work if so required.

Additional information: Päivi Nevala, Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, tel. +358 9 1605 6171 or mobile tel. +358 40 753 4375, and Counsellor Timo Karmakallio, Unit for Humanitarian Assistance, mobile tel. + 358 40 727 5487