The Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for South Sudan, Anita Kiki Gbeho. (AMISOM Photo / Mukhtar Nuur)

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan expressed concerns over insecurity and taxations along highways in the country, saying the situation hinders the delivery of humanitarian goods and services.

Anita Kiki Gbeho made the statement after a meeting with the National Minister of Humanitarian Affairs in Juba on Tuesday.

She called for joint efforts to ensure that the communities themselves understand the importance of humanitarian assistance moving safely.

“We both expressed concern about how we work together to ensure that the environment for the movement of humanitarian goods and services is safe,” Gbeho said.

“(Also discussed) how we can join efforts to ensure that the communities themselves understand the importance of safe movement of humanitarian assistance.”

The humanitarian, who described the meeting as fruitful, said they discussed tax exemption for relief assets and provision of safe environment for aid workers in the country.

For his part, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Albino Akol Atak, admitted the challenges facing the humanitarian sector.

Minister Atak pledged said his ministry is coordinating with the ministries of Finance and Foreign Affairs to resolve the issues raised in the meeting.

“We touched on some of the issues of tax exemption that is now hindering the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of South Sudan and is one of the concerns,” he said.

“We have already talked to the Minister of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this, and I think coming few days, this problem will be resolved.”

“We also shared the concern about the safety of humanitarian workers and properties, which I stated very clearly that this is one of the priorities of this ministry this year, to make sure we reduce those incidences. We eliminate them.”

According to Atak, the latest report on the humanitarian situation, South Sudan has been confronted with several humanitarian challenges.

These include disease outbreaks, environmental shocks, high rates of food insecurity, poor macroeconomic conditions, and widespread violence, which have driven repeated displacement of at-risk populations.