Norway's government faces criticism for reducing promised funding to volunteer rescue organizations. The Labor Party administration proposed only a 3.1 million kroner increase for rescue services in next year's budget.
This falls far short of the 100 million kroner increase parliament approved earlier this year. The funding was supposed to be distributed through an eight-year escalation plan.
Justice and Emergency Minister Astri Aas-Hansen acknowledged the disappointment during a weekend speech. She called volunteer organizations "the backbone of Norwegian emergency preparedness."
Camilla Fensbekk, chair of the Forum for Voluntary Rescue Organizations (FORF), expressed deep frustration. "The disappointment was huge when we found none of those 100 million there. Not a single one of them," she said.
FORF represents nine volunteer rescue groups including Norwegian People's Aid, Red Cross, and Norwegian Rescue Dogs. These organizations provide crucial emergency response across Norway.
When skiers get caught in avalanches or boats face distress at sea, volunteer rescuers often join professional emergency teams. They save lives during extreme weather and other crises.
Fensbekk calculated that after accounting for inflation, only about 1.2 million kroner represents real budget growth. "This marginal increase is far from covering the actual needs of volunteer organizations," she stated.
The Justice and Emergency Department defended the budget choices. Officials said tight economic management required difficult prioritization.
Other emergency preparedness areas received funding instead. These included composite threats, digital resilience, and coordinated emergency work.
The government also plans to establish a state emergency hub in Finnmark, northern Norway.
Fensbekk revealed they had received warning about limited funding. Still, the minimal increase surprised rescue organizations.
She noted that Norway's Total Emergency Commission warned two years ago that more funding was needed. Inflation has already reduced the purchasing power of existing grants.
Volunteer organizations must still rely heavily on unpaid work, Fensbekk explained. The Red Cross alone used 31 million of its 39 million kroner grant last year for emergency network subscriptions.
Rescue services and police have helicopters, drones, and dogs, but volunteers form the core response teams. The 2023 commission emphasized that volunteer groups are central to Norway's emergency system.
That report noted a troubling pattern. While politicians frequently praise volunteers, they rarely prioritize them in budgets.
The commission warned that without stronger support, volunteer organizations might not maintain their current crisis response capacity. They recommended real financial investment and specifically suggested increasing grants.
One commissioner wrote that "volunteers should not have to pay to help save lives."
This budget decision reveals the gap between political rhetoric and financial commitment to emergency preparedness. Volunteer rescuers will continue their work, but with growing constraints.