{"id":203646,"date":"2026-09-14T16:16:06","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T13:16:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/203646\/"},"modified":"2026-09-14T16:16:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T13:16:08","slug":"international-humanitarian-funds-membership-to-increase-to-15-countries-cichanouskajas-office-says","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/203646\/","title":{"rendered":"International Humanitarian Fund\u2019s membership to increase to 15 countries, Cichano\u016dskaja\u2019s Office says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

September 14, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Two more countries have pledged to join the International Humanitarian Fund (IHF), which will bring the total number to 15, the Office of Sviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja announced on Monday, adding that the next goal is to expand the Fund\u2019s membership to 18\u201320 countries by the end of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two countries in question will contribute around \u20ac200,000 to support Belarusians affected by repression, the Office said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dzianis Ku\u010dynski, head of Sviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja\u2019s Office in Vilnius, has discussed the current situation with the Secretary General of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Berit Lindeman. The Committee serves as the Fund\u2019s operator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe parties discussed the current state of the IHF, the use of funds already received, and efforts to bring new countries on board,\u201d the report said. \u201cMost of the previous contributions have already been allocated to people affected by repression, including political prisoners released over the past year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why it is important to attract new contributions and build up sufficient reserves in advance in case of further releases, the Office said, describing the addition of new countries as a result of Cichano\u016dskaja\u2019s negotiations with several governments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Support for the Fund is not limited to initial contributions, with three additional contributions made by Iceland and extra contributions in 2026 by Estonia and Norway. Negotiations are also continuing with other countries considering new contributions, including Finland and Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between 2024 and 2026, the IHF received more than \u20ac3 million in contributions, the Office said. These funds are reportedly distributed through Belarusian human rights and humanitarian organizations that work directly with political prisoners, released people, and families affected by repression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Office of Sviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja expressed gratitude to Lindeman, the International Humanitarian Fund, donor countries, and Belarusian human rights and humanitarian organizations that \u201cturn international support into tangible assistance for people every day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Office\u2019s website, there were 13 IHF donor countries as of early June, namely, Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The website of the International Humanitarian Fund itself lists 14 donor countries, with Slovenia appearing on the list among the others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The International Humanitarian Fund was established by Norway in 2024 at the initiative of Sviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja in 2024 as a joint mechanism through which foreign governments could provide state level humanitarian support to Belarusians affected by repression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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