The Swedish government has approved a new support package of 300 million Swedish krona ($29.5m) to address “the acute needs of the civilian population” in Gaza, Al Jazeera reports.

The funds will go to UN agencies to support efforts for food distribution, emergency housing, as well as medical care and sexual and reproductive health, the government said in a statement.

“The implementation of the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza has resulted in an extremely urgent increase in the supply of humanitarian supplies.

“It is now of the utmost importance that the partners adhere to the ceasefire in Gaza, that unhindered humanitarian access is ensured and that all hostages are released immediately and unconditionally,” said Benjamin Dousa, the Swedish minister for international development cooperation and foreign trade.

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