Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 23 April 2026

UNICEF

PRESS RELEASE

Sweden contributes US$4.17 Million in flexible funds to support UNICEF's lifesaving work for children

Islamabad, 23 April 2026 - The Kingdom of Sweden, through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), has contributed US$4.17 million to UNICEF under the 2026 Humanitarian Action for Children appeal. This timely and flexible contribution will enable UNICEF to respond quickly to climate-induced and other emergencies across Pakistan, delivering critical, lifesaving services to children and families most in need.

"Flexible funding is critical in a context like Pakistan, where children face overlapping risks from climate shocks, displacement, and malnutrition. We are grateful to our partner Sweden for this critical support and their unwavering commitment to the well-being of children and their families. Together, we are reaching the most vulnerable where and when it matters most," said Pernille Ironside, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan.

In 2025, thanks to Sweden's support, UNICEF was able to respond to flood emergencies across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, reaching vulnerable communities in Balochistan and Sindh. More than 400,000 people received essential nutrition, child protection, education, health, and WASH services, while mental health and psychosocial support reached approximately 25,000 children and caregivers through community-based interventions.

"At the heart of Sweden's humanitarian support is a belief in people, their capacity, their resilience, and their right to shape their own futures. We are proud to support UNICEF in their work in Pakistan," said Alexandra Berg von Linde, Ambassador of Sweden in Pakistan.

40 per cent of children under five in Pakistan are stunted, 66 per cent of children are exposed to water scarcity and 47 out of 1,000 children do not survive their first year. During emergencies, limited access to essential services for children is further constrained. Continued support from Sweden will help sustain and expand access to treatment for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, while strengthening integrated services across health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and child protection, contributing to improve child survival and wellbeing.

UNICEF will continue to address critical gaps in lifesaving assistance across Pakistan, with a focus on the most vulnerable and marginalized children and families affected by emergencies. With the support of flexible partners like Sweden, UNICEF can deliver timely, lifesaving assistance to those who need it most, when and where it is needed.

About UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

For more information about UNICEF's work in Pakistan, visit: https://www.unicef.org/pakistan/

For further information, please contact:

Karen Reidy

UNICEF Pakistan

Email: [email protected]

Tel: + 92 302 8284385

Amina Sarwar,

UNICEF Pakistan

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +92 312 5190 383