By Enyichukwu Enemanna
South Sudan has announced the removal of taxes and fees imposed recently in response to the suspension of UN food aid by the United Nations.
Thousands of people in the country rely on supply from outside the country to feed, mostly from UN-backed sources.
The UN had last called on South Sudanese authorities to remove the new taxes, introduced in February.
The measures applied to charges for electronic cargo tracking, security escort fees and fuel.
In its announcement on Friday, the government said it was keeping charges on services rendered by firms contracted by the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.
“These companies are profiting … (and) are subjected to applicable tax,” Finance Minister Awow Daniel Chuang said.
UN was yet to make comment on when the supplies will resume.
Earlier, the UN Humanitarian Affairs Agency said the suspension of food aid had deprived 60,000 people who live in areas inaccessible by road of desperately needed food in March.
It says the number is expected to soar to 135,000 by the end of May.
The UN said the new tax regime would have increased the mission’s monthly operational costs to $339,000.
At least 16,300 people are fed every month through UN food air drops.
The new taxes and charges would have also impact the nearly 20,000-strong UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, “which is reviewing all of its activities, including patrols, the construction of police stations, schools and health care centers, as well as educational support”, United Nations in New York, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Heritage Times HT reports that South Sudan has recorded an increase in the number of people fleeing the war in neighbouring Sudan between the rival military and paramilitary forces, Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
It has further heightened the need for humanitarian assistance, especially by those affected by the internal conflict.
An estimated 9 million people out of 12.5 million people in South Sudan need protection and humanitarian assistance, according to the UN.
According to Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture (GIEWS) at least 45 African countries require external assistance to meet up with the resources required to attain food sufficiency.
Some are as a result of extreme weather conditions that had brought about drought and cyclone, affecting food production.
Some of the countries requiring external assistance include, Central African Republic, Kenya, Somalia, Burundi, Malawi, Niger and others.
