By Ebi Kesiena
The United Nations mission on Wednesday noted that South Sudanese authorities are holding up its fuel tankers over a tax dispute, jeopardising the delivery of millions of dollars of aid at this crucial humanitarian crisis in the country.
According to a spokesperson for the mission, the trucks were held up at depots at the Ugandan border despite assurances from the minister of humanitarian affairs on Tuesday that a new tax on trucks carrying fuel and other supplies did not apply to U.N. humanitarian operations.
“As of now, the trucks are still held up. The mission is continuing to engage intensively at the highest levels to resolve the situation,” Priyanka Chowdhury, acting spokesperson for the mission, known as UNMISS, said.
South Sudan, where hundreds of thousands of people died as a result of civil war from 2013-2018, is experiencing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises as a result of persistent conflict, natural disasters and poverty.
The trade ministry said the $300 charge on each goods truck entering and leaving the country was intended to help the government maximise revenue collection by addressing undervaluation and fraud.
Traders and other organisations have protested against the measure and diplomatic missions called its imposition on UN and other aid operations “illicit and unacceptable” in a statement
Last month, the United Nations estimated that about 7.1 million of its 12.4 million people would experience crisis-level hunger during the April-to-July lean season.
Humanitarian airdrops have been suspended, affecting 60,000 people in need, and UNMISS has also been forced to review peacekeeping patrols and reduce support to peace and electoral processes, the mission said in a statement on Tuesday.
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