En mor holder et barn som smiler på armen. I bakgrunnen ser vi flere mennesker og et slags telt.
Foto: Ed Prior/NRC

2026: What the funds raised will be spent on

Every two seconds, a person is forced to flee because of war and conflict. This year’s NRK telethon is on 18 October and will support the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), which works to provide displaced people with a safe home and hope for the future. 

Never before have so many people been forced to flee from war and conflict, and never before have so many people needed help finding a home. But there is hope, and there are solutions. The 2026 NRK telethon will help provide safer and better living conditions for over 400,000 people in Syria, Gaza, Afghanistan, Chad, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.    

Syria 2026 Ballonger Foto
Foto: Tina Abu Hanna/NRC

48 million displaced children 

Over 120 million people are fleeing war, conflict and persecution – a figure that has doubled over the past decade. Forty percent of these people are children who are particularly vulnerable to danger and harm.     

Having to flee means being caught in the midst of a deep crisis. Life as people know it is turned upside down. People forced to flee from war and conflict have often experienced huge losses; many have lost family members, jobs, education and their social networks. Often, they must leave their home with only what they can carry, not knowing if or when they can return.  

A home is much more than just four walls and a roof. It provides security, protection and a sense of belonging. When families have a place to live, it also becomes easier to find work and send their children to school. Daily life becomes more stable, and the foundation for a new future can be built.  

The funds raised from this year’s NRK telethon will go towards tents and other emergency shelters, temporary and permanent homes, water and sanitation projects, and legal aid    

 

En mann med caps holder en latterfull jente i armene.
Foto: Tareq Mnadili/NRC

How the funds are used

Emergency housing:People with urgent need for shelter, or who need help improving their temporary homes, will receive life-saving assistance. This can include everything from providing tents to supplying tarpaulins, ropes, planks, mattresses and other equipment until families are able to secure more permanent housing.   

Temporary homes: Families will receive help to improve and repair temporary housing, and some families will receive help with paying rent. In addition, the Norwegian Refugee Council will convert intact buildings into homes.  

Permanent homes:the Norwegian Refugee Council will renovate damaged buildings so that more people can have permanent homes. In addition, public buildings will be renovated so that people can return to their communities and access public services.  

Water and sanitation:The Norwegian Refugee Council will repair and rebuild parts of the infrastructure related to water supply and sanitation. As a result, we can create a safe and healthy environment where families and children have access to clean water and proper sanitation.  

Legal aid:Given the extensive damage and destruction, it is crucial to ensure the right to housing and property. The Norwegian Refugee Council will provide information and legal assistance to ensure the housing and property rights of families returning home or setting up temporary shelter.

 Become a door-to-door fundraiser on Sunday 18 October!

Here is how you can get involved in this year's NRK telethon