(Adnkronos) – In South Sudan, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has been forced to temporarily suspend all activities in Yei River and Morobo counties, in Central Equatoria state, following a security incident that saw a staff member kidnapped for several hours. Activities will be suspended for at least 6 weeks, MSF said. The incident occurred during the evacuation of MSF teams from Morobo to Yei, organized for security reasons, a statement explained. The convoy of four vehicles was stopped by armed men who ordered the MSF team leader to get out of the vehicle and dragged him into the bush, while the other vehicles and staff were able to continue towards Yei. This incident occurred just four days after a Ministry of Health worker traveling in an MSF ambulance was kidnapped by armed individuals on the same road and released the following day.
“We are outraged by this targeted attack. Attacks against humanitarian workers assisting the population must end,” said Ferdinand Atte, MSF head of mission in South Sudan. “Although we are deeply committed to providing assistance to those in need, we cannot continue to have our staff work in a dangerous environment.”
In just three months, several incidents of violence against humanitarian workers and health facilities have been reported in Morobo, including forced kidnappings, arson, violent looting of hospitals and damage to medical infrastructure. Seven of these incidents involved the kidnapping of humanitarian workers.
“We call for a sense of responsibility and concrete guarantees from the authorities and all parties to the conflict, including armed groups in Morobo and Yei River counties,” Atte added. “Before we can resume our activities, it is essential that we are guaranteed safe and unhindered access to the population and that civilians and civilian infrastructure are protected, including health workers, patients and medical facilities.”
People living in Yei River and Morobo counties live in remote and hard-to-reach areas, often cut off from essential services due to limited infrastructure and armed conflict, and therefore rely heavily on humanitarian organizations like MSF for essential services.
This is the second time in less than three months that MSF has been forced to temporarily suspend medical services in the area. In May, MSF had already reduced its activities due to increased insecurity and incessant violence in Morobo County, including activities in camps for internally displaced people. “MSF is one of the few medical organizations providing support to various health facilities in this area. When attacks of this kind occur, it is the local population that suffers the most, whose access to essential care is seriously compromised,” Atte concluded. In Yei River and Morobo counties, MSF provides primary care services by supporting four Ministry of Health facilities for outpatient visits, routine vaccinations and maternal and child care. MSF also runs mobile clinics and supports community-based healthcare. Between January and June 2025, MSF teams in the area conducted 14,500 outpatient visits, 1,192 antenatal visits and assisted 438 deliveries.
