SEK 230 million in humanitarian support to Ukraine
Published
Today, the Government presented a new humanitarian support package to Ukraine worth SEK 230 million for 2026. This support will be distributed among the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Save the Children. The package will address urgent needs for heating, water, shelter and food in Ukraine.
“This winter, Russia has attacked civilian infrastructure in Ukraine on a scale not seen before. Families are freezing in flats without electricity in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv and other cities. They are facing an impossible choice that no one should have to make: leave everything, or stay and risk paying the ultimate price. That’s why we’re presenting a supplemental package that will safeguard Ukrainian resilience and give a glimmer of hope to those who are most vulnerable,” says Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa.
The Ukrainian people are now living through a fourth winter of war – the coldest winter since the full-scale invasion was launched on 24 February 2022. Russia’s attacks on the energy supply have led to a humanitarian crisis in the major cities. Millions of civilians lack electricity, heating and water. In Kyiv alone, more than 3 000 buildings have been declared uninhabitable due to damage from Russia’s drones and missile attacks.
According to UNHCR, hundreds of thousands of people could be forced to flee in the coming months if the situation does not improve. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in communities near the frontline remains grave. It is therefore crucial to boost humanitarian support to prevent further displacement and protect Ukraine’s civilian population.
This SEK 230 million humanitarian support package will be distributed among five partner organisations that are reaching areas near the front line and regions where needs are greatest. The support will be used in these locations to alleviate the immediate consequences of Russia’s attacks on the energy infrastructure in Ukraine. Sweden’s humanitarian support is crucial at this acute stage and also supplements its extensive support to Ukraine’s energy sector. The humanitarian support package will be financed within the framework of the development assistance budget.
How the SEK 230 million humanitarian support package for 2026 will be distributed
UN World Food Programme (WFP), SEK 75 million: Helps ensure food security for 600 000 people along the frontline. Supports bakeries so that they can continue operating. Provides cash support so that Ukrainians without sufficient means can buy food where there are markets.
UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), SEK 75 million: Provides urgent support to 2 million of the people who have been forced to flee their homes, in the form of temporary accommodation, blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing. Also provides psychosocial support for managing trauma.
UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), SEK 65 million: Helps enable children’s continued schooling, including by building protective shelters in schools. Also provides support to families with children, including temporary repairs of damaged housing and heating equipment.
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), SEK 10 million. Supports primary care with medicines and equipment. Helps protect civilians and locate missing people. Distributes heating units to people in need.
Save the Children, SEK 5 million: Focuses on children’s mental health and provides psychosocial support to children to alleviate the war’s traumatic effects. Helps ensure that families with children have heating sources and housing that is protected against the cold. Supports children’s possibility to continue their school or provides compensation for missed schooling.
Press contact
Press Secretary to Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa
Phone (switchboard) +46 8 405 10 00
Mobile +46 76 764 06 21
email to Lukas Zeiler
