A number of Western embassies have called on the
transitional government to promptly cease the implementation of new levies and
fees placed on humanitarian agencies and their implementing partners.
The embassies of Canada, the European Union, France,
Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America issued a joint statement expressing
concern about the recently imposed expenses that are hindering humanitarian aid
efforts in South Sudan.
The statement partially states that there are current
instances when costs are being imposed on humanitarian assistance.
“Current examples of efforts to impose costs on
humanitarian assistance include the ePetroleum Accreditation Permit, customs
fees and charges, the electronic cargo tracking note, the laboratory test on
food rations, and the security escort fee,” it reads.
The embassies emphasized that such endeavors are in
direct opposition to both international norms and South Sudanese legislation.
The embassies explained that such efforts are in
violation of both international norms and South Sudanese legislation.
“Such attempts are contrary to international practice and
to South Sudanese law, which clarifies that the United Nations, UN specialized
agencies and diplomatic missions in South Sudan are exempt from excise duties,
customs duties and fees, and other taxes, charges, and fees on goods and
services directly related to diplomatic missions or donor-funded projects,” it continues.
They said that imposing such prices redirects life-saving
relief away from people in desperate need, asserting that it is the
responsibility of the transitional administration to decrease the expenses and
hazards encountered by individuals attempting to deliver humanitarian
assistance in the country.
As per the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP)
2024, a total of 9 million individuals will require humanitarian aid, out of whom the estimates that 7.1 million South Sudanese will require food assistance Integrated Phase Classification (IPC).