Norwegian People's Aid ( no, Norsk Folkehjelp) was founded in 1939 to provide post-conflict reconstruction assistance and humanitarian relief during conflicts. NPA is now engaged in more than 33 countries in de-mining,
humanitarian relief
Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance to people who need help. It is usually short-term help until the long-term help by the government and other institutions replaces it. Among the people in need are the homeless, refugees, and v ...
, promoting democratization; the rights of indigenous people, equality; and fair distribution of power and resources. NPA currently operates de-mineing activities in 16 countries and played a central role in the
International Campaign to Ban Landmines
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) is a coalition of non-governmental organizations whose stated objective is a world free of anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions, where mine and cluster munitions survivors see their right ...
and the
Convention on Cluster Munitions
The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) is an international treaty that prohibits all use, transfer, production, and stockpiling of cluster bombs, a type of explosive weapon which scatters submunitions ("bomblets") over an area. Additionally, ...
which was signed in Oslo in 2008.
NPA manages
refugee
A refugee, conventionally speaking, is a displaced person who has crossed national borders and who cannot or is unwilling to return home due to well-founded fear of persecution. reception centres, anti-racism campaigns, volunteer rescue teams, and a volunteer ambulance service.
History
1930s
Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) was founded on 7 December 1939 as a natural continuation of the work of several Norwegian organizations who had been working to alleviate human suffering during the
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, lin ...
and the
Winter War in Finland.
1940s and 1950s
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, NPA mobilized medical services across the country until the German occupying forces seized its assets and officially disbanded it in September 1941. NPA went into exile and continued work from Sweden.
After World War II, NPA took active part in the rebuilding of Norway, particularly in areas of health care. NPA built health centers and occupational health services throughout the country.
International participated particularly in the humanitarian relief efforts for refugees. In collaboration with
Red Cross
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a Humanitarianism, humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million Volunteering, volunteers, members and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure re ...
work was expanded in 1946 to include all of Europe in terms of the European Council.
1960s and 1970s
NPA organized relief efforts globally such as the response after the
earthquake in Skopje.
NPA was involved in the liberation of Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia. It was also sent help to earthquake victims in
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label=Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavija ...
.
1980s and 1990s
NPA intensified efforts primarily in southern Africa and
Latin America
Latin America or
* french: Amérique Latine, link=no
* ht, Amerik Latin, link=no
* pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived f ...
.
Food relief aid for 40 million people (1,200 tons) was collected and sent to Poland during the food crisis in the country. Efforts in the
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...
and
South Sudan
South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the C ...
began during this decade.
NPA began working in Eastern Europe during this time, and in the new regime of South Africa, NPA was one of the first foreign organizations promoting democracy and transitional justice.
Demining
Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing land mines from an area. In military operations, the object is to rapidly clear a path through a minefield, and this is often done with devices such as mine plows and blast waves. By contra ...
began on behalf of
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
in
Cambodia
Cambodia (; also Kampuchea ; km, កម្ពុជា, UNGEGN: ), officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, spanning an area of , bordered by Thailand t ...
and
Mozambique
Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...
. In Norway, NPA established a guardian system for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers from countries in conflict.
Criticism of NPA
In March 2000, the
European-Sudanese Public Affairs Council, led by
David Hoile, referred to a November 1999 television documentary that alleged that NPA-controlled aeroplanes had supplied the
Sudan People's Liberation Army
The South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), formerly the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), is the army of the South Sudan, Republic of South Sudan. The SPLA was founded as a guerrilla movement against the government of Sudan in 198 ...
(SPLA) with 80–100 tonnes of weapons and landmines.
The
Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence referred to allegations by unnamed groups that the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE; ta, தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள், translit=Tamiḻīḻa viṭutalaip pulikaḷ, si, දෙමළ ඊළාම් විමුක්ති කොටි, t ...
(LTTE) had "used" the NPA for "terrorist activities".
The Ministry of Defence also expressed concern about an incident in which several NPA vehicles were stolen by the LTTE.
In 2018, they settled a $2 million legal case with the US Department of Justice, following claims from the U.S. government that NPA breached the U.S. False Claims Act when signing an USAID grant agreement in South Sudan, by failing to disclose NPA's activities in support for a democratisation project for youth in Gaza from 2012 to 2016, and a demining project in Iran that ended in 2008, the latter an assignment for the Norwegian oil company Norsk Hydro. Israel has called on the EU to stop funding Norwegian People's Aid due to its alleged links to groups categorized by the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
,
EU and Israel as terrorist groups.
Israel calls on EU to stop funding groups promoting 'anti-Israel' boycotts
Reuters, May 25, 2018
2011 Norway attacks
Hanne Anette Balch Fjalestad, a teammember at NPA, was killed on Utøya during the attack on the 22 July 2011 and NPA provided emergency medical services to victims on-site after the attack.
Notable people
* Orrvar Dalby
References
External links
Official site (Norwegian)
Official site (English)
NPA pictures from Flickr
NPA on Facebook
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Non-profit organisations based in Norway
Mine warfare and mine clearance organizations
Organizations established in 1939
1939 establishments in Norway