This weekend Dagens Nyheter published an extended report from Ethiopia, claiming that Swedish taxpayer money keeps children alive but that this support will soon be stopped. This is, to put it mildly, a truth with modifications.
Under the topic “Swedish Politics” and the headline “Who will help Bahasan when Swedish support disappears?” readers are told that Swedish taxpayer money is keeping a six-month-old girl alive, and that this support will cease within a week.
“DN examines the consequences of Sweden’s new precautionary principle,” writes reporter Staffan Lindberg.
In Ethiopia, DN spoke with Hassen Abdi, local director of Islamic Relief, accompanied by Cecilia Emilsson from the organization’s Sweden office.
“The situation is desperate. We don’t know where it will end,” says Abdi.
Over a Billion Kronor
Despite the fact that Islamic Relief is described by many as an organization linked to Islamist circles and the Muslim Brotherhood, it has received over a billion kronor in support from Swedish taxpayers since 2018.
In 2025, the Tidö government introduced a new precautionary principle to ensure Swedish money does not end up with terrorists and Islamists. Following this, Sida decided not to continue funding Islamic Relief with 100 million kronor per year, and the cooperation will end on May 31.
However, it is not true that all Swedish support to Ethiopia is being cut. This year alone, Sweden is giving 141 million kronor to the country. What has changed is that the money will no longer go via Islamic Relief, but instead, for example, to the Red Cross and UNICEF.
4.5 Billion
“Millions of people are in urgent need of help. That’s why Sweden is presenting over 2.7 billion kronor in humanitarian aid today. We live in a troubled world with enormous needs, and forecasts indicate that these could increase even more in 2026. It is extremely important that Swedish humanitarian aid is distributed quickly, precisely, and effectively,” said Minister for Aid and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa (M) in April.
“These efforts, for example, allow mothers fleeing the war in famine-stricken Sudan to feed their children, and a family of five who fled their home in Lebanon to have a roof over their heads. Swedish support will save lives and give dignity to some of the world’s most vulnerable people.”
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Sida’s initial allocation amounts to over 2.7 billion kronor, corresponding to 60 percent of Sida’s total humanitarian appropriation, which totals approximately 4.5 billion kronor for 2026. The vast majority of these funds, nearly 2.4 billion kronor, are distributed among the 25 most acute crises in the world and are based on an in-depth analysis of where the needs are greatest.
“We are providing these large and life-saving supports early in the year to give our partners the best conditions to save lives and alleviate hardship. The money goes to established organizations that we know can work effectively and professionally in difficult environments and ensure our funds have immediate impact,” said Hanna Hellquist, Acting Director-General of Sida.
DN Reporter Rejects Criticism
Staffan Lindberg, who wrote the article, does not agree that the entire premise of completely cut Swedish aid is misleading.
“The wording refers to the Swedish support that financed the specific activities in the Liban zone through Islamic Relief,” he tells Samnytt.