The UN reports that over 60,000 people in South Sudan are facing severe hunger as aid deliveries grind to a halt due to fuel shortages.
The interruption in food distribution occurred as the UN faced challenges in securing sufficient fuel.
This development followed the government’s decision to impose taxes on supplies brought in by UN agencies and other international organisations.
Since February, the South Sudanese government has been implementing new taxes and fees at borders and internally.
Despite assurances from the government last week that they would not tax UN supplies, the situation remains unchanged.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that if the government doesn’t lift these taxes, approximately 145,000 people could face dire consequences by the end of May.
Anita Kiki Gbeho, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, urgently called on the government to remove these taxes, emphasising the importance of their previous agreement to support those in need.
“We need the government to act swiftly to prevent aid operations from being disrupted,” she emphasised.
According to the UN, around 9 million people in South Sudan will require assistance, with approximately 7.1 million facing food insecurity during the lean season this year.
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