MSF suspends work in 2 South Sudan counties after attack

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Thursday it was suspending operations in two South Sudan counties after staff came under attack from an armed group.

MSF said six staff were travelling on a river in Upper Nile State in the northeast of the country on Wednesday after delivering hospital supplies when they came under attack.

“Unidentified gunmen opened fire on the boats, forcing the MSF staff to jump into the river and swim to safety in a nearby village,” the NGO said in a statement.

One staff member was injured in the escape.

“Such attacks on healthcare workers are unacceptable and highlight the volatile environment in which humanitarian organisations operate in South Sudan,” said Zakaria Mwatia, MSF’s head of mission for the country.

“The people living in Nasir and Ulang counties already face limited access to healthcare and the impact of such violence further jeopardises the delivery of essential medical services,” Mwatia added.

MSF said it was forced to suspend all travel to remote areas of Nasir and Ulang counties.

South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, faces chronic instability, violence and extreme poverty, lately exacerbated by some of the worst flooding in decades and a massive influx of refugees fleeing the war in neighbouring Sudan.