South Sudan Hospital Hit by Government Air Strike

Medical NGO Reports Targeted Attacks on Hospitals in South Sudan

A hospital operated by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Lankien, Jonglei state, was hit by a government air strike on Tuesday, marking the latest incident in a series of attacks on MSF-run medical facilities in the country. This attack follows restrictions imposed by the South Sudanese government in December on humanitarian access in opposition-held areas, which have limited MSF’s ability to deliver essential medical assistance.

The hospital was evacuated and patients were discharged hours before the attack, but one MSF staff member suffered minor injuries. The main warehouse of the hospital was destroyed during the attack, resulting in the loss of critical supplies for providing medical care.

In a separate incident, MSF reported that its health facility in Pieri, also in Jonglei, had been looted by unknown assailants on Tuesday, making it “unusable for the local community”. The organization’s staff and patients were forced to flee the area, and their current whereabouts are unknown as efforts are made to establish communication.

MSF has stated that it shared GPS coordinates of its facilities with the government and other parties to the conflict before the attacks. However, no immediate comment was received from government officials regarding these incidents.

The United Nations reports that an estimated 280,000 people have been displaced in Jonglei state between December and this week due to fighting and aerial bombardments. MSF serves approximately 250,000 people in Lankien and Pieri, highlighting the significant impact of attacks on its facilities on local healthcare needs.

MSF has suspended general healthcare activities in several states, including Greater Upper Nile, Upper Nile, and Central Equatoria, following targeted attacks on its facilities. The organization will continue to assess the situation and make necessary decisions to protect staff and healthcare facilities.

Source: Al Jazeera