Sudan Reverses Tax Decision Affecting UN Food Airdrops

Juba, South Sudan - In response to a United Nations appeal, the government of South Sudan has rescinded recently imposed taxes and fees that had led to the suspension of crucial U.N. food airdrops.

These airdrops are vital for thousands of South Sudanese, particularly those in regions inaccessible by road, who rely heavily on international aid.

The new taxes, introduced in February, included charges for electronic cargo tracking, security escort fees, and fuel.

The U.N. had urgently requested the removal of these taxes, warning of significant impacts on humanitarian operations. The South Sudanese government, however, stated on Friday that while it would remove some charges, taxes on services provided by firms contracted by the U.N. peacekeeping mission would remain.

Finance Minister Awow Daniel Chuang justified this decision by noting that these companies are profiting and are thus subject to applicable taxes.

The U.N. has not yet commented on when the airdrops might resume. Before the suspension, the U.N. Humanitarian Affairs Agency reported that the halt in airdrops had already deprived 60,000 people of desperately needed food in March, with expectations that this number could rise to 135,000 by the end of May.

The measures had threatened to increase the mission’s monthly operational costs by $339,000, significantly impacting the ability to feed over 16,300 people every month.

At the United Nations in New York, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric expressed concerns that the taxes and charges would also affect the nearly 20,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.

This mission is involved in numerous critical activities, including patrols, construction of police stations, schools, health care centers, and providing educational support.

South Sudan, with an estimated 9 million people out of its 12.5 million needing protection and humanitarian assistance, faces compounded challenges with an influx of people fleeing the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan.

This backdrop makes the efficient delivery of humanitarian aid more crucial than ever, as the country struggles to manage both internal and regional crises.