The Norwegian government decided on Monday to grant an additional 20 million kroner (about US$2.9 million) in humanitarian aid to the civilian population in Gaza, according to reports from Oslo.

In total, Norway has so far granted 50 million kroner (about US$7.1 million) in emergency humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, where fighting between Israel and Hamas militants broke out in late December.

"We want to increase our aid to the population of Gaza, seriously hit by the fighting. The government has therefore decided to grant an additional 20 million kroner to medicine, food and other emergency aid to the Palestinians," the Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement posted on the Norwegian government's website.

The funds will be allocated to the UN, the Red Cross family and Norwegian humanitarian organizations delivering critical help in Gaza.

The Norwegian prime minister once again called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

"What's most important just now is to see an immediate end to the fighting, in order to avoid the further loss of lives and to reach the Palestinians with the assistance they sorely need," he said.

Some 900 Palestinians have reportedly been killed and more than 4,100 others wounded since the Israeli military offensive in Gaza began on December 27, in retaliation against rocket attacks into southern Israel by Hamas militants.

(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2009)