Mozambican authorities have imposed charges totalling $12,700 (£10,500) on a consignment of much-needed emergency aid brought into the flood-ravaged country by the Irish agency, Concern. The charges were imposed by the airport authorities at Beira in respect of a shipment of 40 tonnes of aid which arrived in Mozambique early on Wednesday morning.
The consignment of food, water, cooking and medical supplies was still sitting on the tarmac of Beira airport last night, after the authorities prevented the agency moving it to safe warehousing.
They also refused to provide temporary storage. Staff covered the goods with tarpaulin and employed security guards to provide protection.
Most of the assistance provided to flood victims has been channeled through the capital, Maputo, which lies 600 miles to the south of Beira, and the government has been accused of not doing enough to help those affected in the more northerly regions.
After the aircraft chartered by Concern arrived from Ostend in Belgium, customs officers insisted the papers were not in order, although agency staff had been told beforehand that all the relevant documents had been submitted.
They then allowed the consignment to be unloaded, but then demanded that the goods be put back on the aircraft. They later relented and allowed the aircraft to fly back to Europe, but instructed the agency to leave the load on the tarmac.
Some of the charges were levied in respect of aircraft fuel, but the overall figure includes a charge of $3,900 for handling and parking the aircraft, and a charge of $4,100 relating to the size of the shipment.
Concern's director in Mozambique, Mr Jo Thomas, said it was his understanding that the charges would be waived, in view of the emergency situation resulting from massive flooding in the country. He said the agency would be trying to get back at least some of the charges imposed.
The Mozambican Foreign Minister, Dr Leonardo Simao, told The Irish Times earlier this week that more detailed information would be provided by the authorities on the charges.
