The Norwegian government has, as expected, decided to contribute a military transport plane to help send humanitarian aid to refugees in Northern Iraq who are fleeing the extremist Islamic group IS (the Islamic State).
Prime Minister Erna Solberg confirmed during a debate Thursday night among leaders of all of Norway’s political parties that the US had asked for assistance after it launched its own military efforts to fend off the IS troops. Solberg said her conservative government would comply but only with humanitarian, not military, aid.
“Norway will help people in need,” Foreign Minister Børge Brende said just before the weekend. Defense Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide said the aircraft can be made available within 48 hours and contribute to relief efforts for up to three months. As many as 1.4 million Iraqis have fled the brutality of the IS, which is intent on imposing strict Islamic law in Iraq.
newsinenglish.no staff
