South Sudan has been urged by the United Nations to rescind recently imposed taxes and fees that led to the suspension of U.N. food airdrops, crucial for thousands reliant on external aid.
In a statement issued on Monday, the U.N. Humanitarian Affairs Agency highlighted the dire consequences of halting airdrops in March, emphasizing the deprivation of food for 60,000 individuals residing in regions inaccessible by road. Alarmingly, this figure is projected to soar to 135,000 by the end of May.
The U.N. disclosed that the implementation of new charges would inflate operational expenses to $339,000 monthly, a sum deemed sufficient to feed over 16,300 people. These charges, introduced in February, are related to electronic cargo tracking, security escort fees, and additional taxes on fuel.
Anita Kiki Gbeho, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan, underscored the adverse impact of these bureaucratic impediments, stressing, “Our limited funds are spent on saving lives and not bureaucratic impediments.”
While the South Sudanese government indicated verbally its intention to rescind the new charges and taxes, no written commitment has been made since February, according to the U.N.
A staggering 9 million out of 12.5 million individuals in South Sudan require protection and humanitarian aid, as per U.N. estimates. Additionally, the nation has witnessed an influx of refugees fleeing the conflict in neighboring Sudan, further complicating efforts to deliver essential aid to those affected by internal strife.
Melissa Enoch
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