Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has announced the suspension of its medical activities in Yei, South Sudan, following a violent incident involving their staff last week. According to an official statement, MSF personnel were forcibly removed from their vehicle at gunpoint by armed men who subsequently looted the MSF vehicles. Although two staff members were released shortly after, two others were taken hostage and freed 24 hours later. This event marks the third attack on MSF staff in the region within the past three months.
The charity organization has been operating in the conflict-ridden area of Yei, where violence is driven by armed groups, since 1983. In addition to Yei, MSF provides medical care to displaced and remote communities across South Sudan. The head of MSF’s mission in South Sudan, Iqbal Huda, emphasized that the suspension will remain in effect until there are concrete guarantees ensuring the safety of their personnel and the unhindered continuation of medical and humanitarian services in the region. You can read more details here.
The humanitarian situation in South Sudan has been a cause of significant concern in recent years. Violence against humanitarian workers has been a persistent issue, further exacerbated by ongoing economic turmoil and inter-group conflict. The civil war that erupted in 2018 has left healthcare systems in a precarious situation, severely restricting access to medical assistance for many in the region. For a broader context on the violence against humanitarian workers, refer to this report.