Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has halted operations in two South Sudanese counties for at least six weeks. This decision follows the kidnapping of a second staff member in less than a week, the medical charity announced Tuesday. The latest abduction happened four days after a Health Ministry staffer was briefly taken from an MSF ambulance.
Both incidents occurred on the same road, highlighting growing dangers in the region, MSF said in a statement. Gunmen stopped an MSF convoy during an evacuation from Morobo to Yei River counties, seizing the team leader.
The rest of the team was allowed to continue, but the incident intensified fears for humanitarian safety. Ferdinand Atte, MSF’s head of mission in South Sudan, expressed outrage over the attacks targeting aid workers.
“Atte urged all parties to end violence against humanitarian staff to ensure life-saving care can continue.” He stressed MSF’s commitment to providing care but underscored the need for a safe working environment.
“This ongoing insecurity forces us to pause critical medical services, jeopardizing vulnerable communities,” he said. This marks the second major scale-back by MSF in under three months due to rising violence.
In May, the organization reduced activities amid growing insecurity and suspended operations in internally displaced persons camps in Morobo. The repeated attacks underscore the harsh reality humanitarian groups face in South Sudan’s unstable regions.
As aid workers become targets, access to essential medical care slips further away from those most in need. MSF’s suspension sends a stark message: without safety guarantees, even lifesaving missions cannot continue.
