Doctors Without Borders, famously known as MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières), sounded a dire warning on Thursday regarding a significant surge in attacks targeting medical facilities throughout South Sudan. The escalating violence has caused mass displacement, with fragile health centers struggling to cope. How did it come to this? Amidst years of political turmoil and unrest, fresh tensions between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar have reignited fighting across various regions.
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While much international focus has lingered on the violence erupting in the Upper Nile state, MSF highlighted that clashes are not confined to just one area. Jonglei, Unity, and both Western and Central Equatoria states are witnessing hostilities that are stretching already limited medical resources thin. Can you truly measure the human cost? Consider this perspective from MSF operations manager, Bakri Abubakr. He paints a sobering picture: “We are talking about a major conflict that is taking place over multiple fronts and multiple locations.”
The aftermath? Displacement on a massive scale, according to Abubakr. Upper Nile state has seen around 60,000 people forced from their homes, while Jonglei’s figures reach a staggering 50,000. Imagine entire villages uprooted overnight. Abandoned hospitals, deserted health facilities, and community centers left without their staff only emphasize the gravity of the situation. “We are witnessing a collapsing health system in the country,” he noted, a stark reminder that even before these latest conflicts, only half of South Sudan’s medical facilities were functioning.
In a country where approximately 80% of the healthcare infrastructure relies on international aid, MSF’s Abdalla Hussein reported a surge in attacks on healthcare facilities, personnel, and civilians. Consider the disturbing reality: White Nile River barges carrying crucial supplies ambushed, remote outposts plundered. The United Nations has reported eight medical facilities compromised this year, yet MSF suspects the true number could be higher.
To discuss the human toll without addressing the personal stories seems inadequate. Zakariya Mwatia, the MSF head of mission, recounted an emotional scene in Malakal city. Increasing numbers of the wounded arrive, having spent harrowing weeks sleeping rough and navigating the bush. Their health is precarious, often beyond salvation. In his words, “We are yet to see the worst.” These haunting reflections underscore the urgency of the crisis.
As we absorb this unsettling narrative, it’s crucial to question not just the landscape of South Sudan but the broader ramifications of the world’s newest conflict zone. In times like these, how can the international community pivot to provide the necessary support without delay? For now, MSF continues its vital work under increasingly perilous conditions—a beacon of hope amid despair.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring
