Introduction of 100 percent taxes for the goods from central Serbia significantly hampers the work of the humanitarian organizations, KIM Radio reports today.
That is why the food reserves for the soup kitchens would soon end, delivery of equipment for the hospital center in Gracanica has been postponed, and the question remains if the New Year’s packages dedicated to the children would arrive on time, humanitarian workers Svetlana Stevic and Arnaud Gouillon warned.
“Humanitarian aid is not exempted from paying the taxes. They also request to have “Republic of Kosovo” written on invoices, something that we cannot accept,” President of the humanitarian organization “Majka devet Jugovica” Svetlana Simic told KIM Radio.
We received no aid since the taxes were introduced, and there are no signs we would get it, Stevic added, saying the work of this humanitarian organization, that takes care of 6 soup kitchen for vulnerable people in Kosovo, would be brought into question is the situation does not change.
Founder of the association Solidarity for Kosovo, humanitarian Arnaud Gouillon said the situation on the ground is complicated, alarming and it impacts even the humanitarian work of the association in Kosovo and Metohija.
He noted 100 percent taxes are not only the blow to the Serbian economy, but also impact survival of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.
“Serbs in Kosmet are brave, hardworking, they produce many things on their own, but unfortunately they can not produce medicaments, oil and other items that are missing or would soon start missing,” Gouillon told Tanjug news agency.
He said the latest Pristina’s taxes impact “Christmas Convoy” that should bring the joy to the youngest ones in Kosovo and Metohija for the 14th year in a row.
He noted they are thinking now should they send the truck with the gifts this year at all, since even before introduction of taxes they faced problems.
“Every year they would stop our truck, searched it, opened packages. This year, considering the ban they imposed on me, taxes, the question remains, should we send the truck at all, since if the truck is kept for a month, we achieved nothing.”
Gouillon added they would send volunteers of the association on the spot, in case they do not manage to transport gifts collected in France, then they would buy them on the spot in order to make the youngest ones living in Kosovo and Metohija happy.
“These children have only that and we must not deny that happiness to them,” Gouillon said.
