Speaking at a press briefing in New York on Thursday, Ging claimed that the all the food found substandard was meant to be returned to the concerned supplier and that the food found to have been substandard was actually stored in warehouse for return.The claim made by Ging in response to a question asked by journalists during the press briefing contradicts facts. While National Human Rights Commission, a statutory body, had found sub-standard food distributed by WFP in Kavrepalanchowk district, locals in Laprak area in Gorkha district had complained with evidence that WFP had distributed rotten rice to them.
Likewise, a parliamentary probe panel had found a huge amount of sub-standard food including pulses at the WFP's warehouse in Nepalgunj. Although Nepali media published news reports on substandard food with photographs and other evidences, Ging during his visit to Nepal had flatly termed the media reports 'nonsense', while failing to acknowledge that there were serious flaws in procurement and distribution system.
Ging claimed that Nepal government was imposing 30 percent tax on humanitarian donations. He also claimed that backlogs of essential shelter materials continue at Kathmandu airport and the Indian border due to what he called 'bureaucratic impediments'.
Government officials, however, refute his claim. They instead complained that UN agencies had not coordinated with the government and showed highhandedness while importing such humanitarian donations.
Joint Secretary at Ministry of Finance Laxman Aryal, who deals with the customs issues, rejected outright the claim made by Ging. "What Ging has reportedly said is totally false. The government has never imposed tax on donations. Customs officials have released all the things received as donation then and there if they [UN officials] have furnished them with the recommendation letter of the concerned line ministry," Aryal told Republica.
Keeping in view the grave situation in the aftermath of the massive earthquake on April 25, the government had waived all sorts of taxes on humanitarian items imported to Nepal till June 22. But after June 22, the customs administration has made it mandatory for all aid agencies, including the UN, to get recommendation letter for tax waiver from concerned line ministries.
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