Historic Donation to Gaza.. Swedish Billionaire Grants UNICEF $85 Million to Support Education and Relief

The international humanitarian scene witnessed a significant shift with the announcement by UNICEF Sweden that it had received exceptional financial support earmarked for the Gaza Strip, totaling approximately $120 million. This move comes amid increasing European interest in the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Strip, with governmental and private entities contributing to this historic support that strengthens the resilience of international relief organizations.

Prominently featured in this support is the generous donation from the foundation of Swedish billionaire Roger Akelius, valued at $85 million (800 million kronor), which is the largest individual donation UNICEF Sweden has received since its establishment. According to press sources, this amount will be primarily allocated to restoring the collapsed educational process in the Strip and providing a safe environment for children who have lost their schools due to the ongoing war.

For his part, Roger Akelius expressed his deep distress at the scenes coming from Gaza, emphasizing that the suffering of children there exceeds what the media conveys or what press reports describe. Akelius clarified in his statements that he is aware of the extent of criticism he might face because of this stance, but he stressed the necessity of human resilience in the face of what he described as 'genocide' and blatant violations against childhood.

Swedish support was not limited to private initiatives, as the Swedish government announced an additional $40 million for UNICEF, along with a contribution of $2 million from the Swedish Postcode Lottery. With these figures, Sweden ranks second globally as the largest donor to the Gaza Strip in the current phase, coming directly after the United Arab Emirates, which topped the lists of humanitarian support.

In a related context, Sweden's Minister for International Development Cooperation, Benjamin Dousa, revealed the allocation of additional funds for other UN programs operating in the Palestinian field, including 100 million kronor for the World Food Programme. Dousa indicated that the goal of announcing this aid early is to encourage other European donors to act, fearing that other international conflicts might marginalize the tragedy of Gaza's children.

Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF's Special Representative in the State of Palestine, welcomed this support, describing it as 'exceptional,' emphasizing that it will serve as a fundamental pillar in attempts to restore hope for Palestinian children. Veitch explained that the allocated amounts will effectively contribute to resuming educational activities and providing psychological and social support to thousands of children suffering from the severe traumas of war.

Sweden's government aid distribution plan includes allocating significant amounts to support healthcare, especially neonatal care in hospitals suffering from a severe shortage of resources. Multi-service educational centers will also be funded to provide recreational activities and psychological support, in an attempt to compensate children for what they missed during months of forced disconnection from normal life.

Regarding shelter and food security, the United Nations Development Programme will benefit from Swedish funding to relocate about a thousand Palestinian families to temporary emergency housing to improve their living conditions. The World Food Programme will also work to enhance the provision of school meals and fresh food, with a focus on supporting local production to ensure the sustainability of food supplies under the imposed blockade.

These massive financial movements come within Sweden's aid budget for 2026, reflecting an internal struggle in Swedish politics between international humanitarian orientations and local policies. Despite Akelius's criticisms of the government on other issues, he considered providing these funds to Gaza a 'strong stance' that expresses an awareness of the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe facing the residents of the Strip.

Even an orphaned Palestinian child is a normal child, sleepless, with crying, longing, and stomach aches... The situation in Gaza is much worse than what is seen on television.