Two more countries have pledged to join the International Humanitarian Fund. They will contribute around €200,000 to support Belarusians affected by repression. Once all procedures are completed, 15 countries will be participating in the IHF.
The Director of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Vilnius, Dzianis Kuchynski, has discussed the current situation with the Secretary General of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Berit Lindeman. The Committee serves as the Fund’s operator.
The parties discussed the current state of the IHF, the use of funds already received, and efforts to bring new countries on board. Most of the previous contributions have already been allocated to people affected by repression, including political prisoners released over the past year.
That is why it is important to attract new contributions and build up sufficient reserves in advance in case of further releases. The addition of new countries is the result of negotiations conducted by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her team with several governments. The number of countries participating in the Fund will reach 15, fulfilling a goal previously set by the team.
Support for the Fund is not limited to initial contributions. Iceland has already made three contributions, while Estonia and Norway made additional contributions in 2026. Negotiations are also continuing with other countries considering new contributions, including Finland and Spain.
Between 2024 and 2026, the IHF received more than €3 million in contributions. These funds are distributed through Belarusian human rights and humanitarian organizations that work directly with political prisoners, released people, and families affected by repression.
The next goal is to expand the Fund’s membership to 18–20 countries by the end of the year. This is necessary to ensure that the Fund can not only respond to current requests but also maintain a reserve for providing rapid assistance during future releases.
The Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanks Berit Lindeman, the International Humanitarian Fund, donor countries, and Belarusian human rights and humanitarian organizations that turn international support into tangible assistance for people every day.
Read more about the International Humanitarian Fund’s work and new contributions at the link.
