The United States has announced visa restrictions on South Sudanese officials and others who have hindered humanitarian aid by taxing shipments, according to the State Department on Friday.
South Sudan, devastated by civil war from 2013 to 2018, faces a severe humanitarian crisis due to ongoing conflict, natural disasters, and widespread poverty.
U.N. missions have reported that South Sudanese authorities are blocking U.N. fuel tankers due to a tax dispute, endangering the delivery of millions of dollars in aid amid a humanitarian crisis.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller criticized the government for failing to address the high costs, bureaucratic hurdles, and risks involved in delivering aid to those in need.
The visa restrictions will bar the affected individuals from entering the United States.
This situation “raises concerns about the government’s ability and willingness to uphold its 2018 peace agreement commitment to facilitate humanitarian aid and protection,” he stated.
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