Government soldiers working at checkpoints are asking for taxes on humanitarian supplies being delivered to Northern Bahr al-Ghazal State, the UN has said.

They say trucks carrying goods for the needy are being held for several hours or days over demand for taxes.

The agencies say this is against an agreement they reached with the ministry of foreign affairs to guide their operations.

30 heads of UN agencies and international organizations brought the matter to the attention of the caretaker governor, General Akot Deng Akot, in Aweil town on Tuesday.

“We have trucks coming to NBGS that are held at Kuom checkpoint for number of hours; they are also directed to come to Customs office and they are held for number of hours or maybe days,” Mach Anyang Yuang, head of the sub officer for the World Food Program, confirmed to Eye Radio.

Mr Anyang says exemption letters can only be produced at the point of entry, but soldiers at checkpoints should not be asking for the letters.

In response, Gen Akot says the state government will address the issue.

Officials say the meeting was for aid agencies and organizations to explain projects they are implementing and how their plans could be integrated into the government policy for 2016.

Most of the humanitarian organizations noted the worsening food security in the state.