Sweden, Norway pledge humanitarian aid

Sweden announced Thursday it will donate an extra 150 million kronor ($13.4 million) in humanitarian support for Gaza in addition to the 560 million kroner ($50 million) in aid to Palestinians it has already earmarked for the whole of 2023.

“It's about the most basic things for people to get through the day,” International Development Cooperation Minister Johan Forssell said. The aid will mostly be channeled through various U.N. organizations, he said. In neighboring Norway, the government said Thursday it is increasing support for Palestinian children in Gaza via the U.N. Children's Fund by donating 25 million kroner ($2 million). International Development Minister Anne Beathe Tvinnereim said ”the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza is absolutely terrible and it is devastating to see how children are affected.”