FRANCAISNorwegian Refugee Council - History
1950-1959
-1st January 1953, Norway: Aid to Europe, which begins to fund activities in developing countries, takes the name of NRC and becomes a semi-official organisation. The programmes run in Norway are totally financed by the Government and consist of social aid services for refugees without actually taking part in the attribution of political asylum, a prerogative of the State.
-From October 1956, Hungary: NRC facilitates the reception in Austria of refugees fleeing the occupation of Budapest by the Red Army. But the organisation is criticised because it doesn’t accommodate Hungarian asylum seekers directly in Norway.
-1957, Norway: discussions about the budget for Financial Year 1957 show how the organisation got “nationalised” and depends on the government. Initially, the State was to take care of asylum seekers in Norway, while funds collected by NRC would finance activities abroad. But the minister of Social Affairs now wants NRC to use these funds to contribute to social services for refugees in Norway.
