Illegal roadblocks manned by men in uniform are common across South Sudan. (-)

Illegal checkpoints across the country are making delivery of humanitarian aid to needy populations difficult and expensive, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management has said.

Albino Atak says some individuals levy fees on humanitarian items and convoys, which he says makes aid delivery challenging.

However, Atak says, they have discovered the practice has been eradicated in some areas.

He says they are also working to cease illegal charges on aid convoys in other areas where the vice still exists.

“On the issue of checkpoints, this is one of the things delaying and even making humanitarian operations very expensive because some people without knowledge always levy some of the fees or charges on humanitarian items and convoys which is not accepted,” Minister Atak said.

“Humanitarians should be allowed to go to where they are going without hindrance, but, sometimes, those people who are not aware of this always commit this,” he said.

“We have discovered this and we have now eradicated in several areas, those areas that remain, we are working on it. Nobody is supposed to be above the law, doing what the government has not permitted”.