The Embassies of Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America have urged the transitional government to immediately halt recent actions that have imposed illicit and unacceptable costs on donor governments, United Nations agencies, and their implementing partners who are seeking to provide humanitarian assistance in South Sudan.
According to a press statement, some of the 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.
“Such attempts are contrary to international practice and to South Sudanese law, which clarifies that the United Nations, UN specialized agencies, diplomatic missions, or other international donors and their contractors, grantees, and implementing partners 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,” the statement said. “When the transitional government imposes such costs, it is diverting life-saving aid from South Sudanese people in need.”
“It is the obligation of the transitional government to reduce the costs and risks faced by those seeking to provide humanitarian assistance to its people.” It concluded.