Sweden’s humanitarian support to Gaza
Updated
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The needs are acute and immense. Since 7 October 2023, Sweden has provided more than SEK 1 billion to the humanitarian response in Gaza. Sweden is also a major donor of core support to several humanitarian organisations on the ground. This support goes to the most vulnerable groups, with a focus on the needs of women and children, and contributes to emergency medical care, shelter, access to food, health care, psychosocial support, maternity care, water and sanitation.
For support to reach those in need, humanitarian access must be unimpeded. This includes the safe movement of humanitarian staff and transports to all parts of Gaza. Under international humanitarian law, Israel has a special responsibility to ensure that the civilian population’s needs are met in Gaza. The Government emphasises that Israel must also do more to live up to its obligation under international humanitarian law to protect the civilian population. The Government has actively pursued the issue of increased humanitarian access since the start of the war and is continuing to raise the issue in Sweden’s own contact with Israel and together with other EU countries.
On 20 December 2024, the Government decided to significantly strengthen its preparedness to provide humanitarian funding in the event of sudden-onset, sharply deteriorating or underfunded crises throughout the year. SEK 800 million was then allocated to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the region. Of that, SEK 300 million has been disbursed to support the response in Gaza. SEK 30 million has also been allocated to Palestinian refugee children in Jordan through UNICEF. In addition to the SEK 800 million, the Government has allocated SEK 10 million to Save the Children’s activities in Gaza.
On 20 December 2024, the Government also decided to terminate its core support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). In 2024, Sweden’s support to UNRWA totalled SEK 451 million through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The Government continuously reviews Sweden’s humanitarian engagement to ensure that Swedish development assistance is distributed in the best possible way, and has chosen to channel its increased support to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the region through other humanitarian partners.
