Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has raised alarm over a looming health catastrophe among South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia.
Tens of thousands have fled violence in South Sudan to the border town of Mattar, where local infrastructure is overwhelmed.
South Sudan’s fragile peace, after years of brutal civil war, has collapsed again, fueling fresh clashes between rival factions.
The fighting pits forces loyal to President Salva Kiir against those of First Vice President Riek Machar, recently placed under house arrest.
MSF reports between 35,000 and 85,000 refugees now live in Mattar, facing outbreaks of cholera and severe malnutrition.
Since February, MSF has treated 1,200 cholera patients, a disease with a fatality rate of up to 20 percent.
Malaria infections are rising, with over 40 percent of rapid diagnostic tests returning positive among the refugees.
Nearly seven percent of children under five show signs of severe acute malnutrition, a worrying indicator of crisis.
Ongoing armed clashes forced MSF to move medical services from Burbeiye, near the border, to Mattar for safety reasons.
More than 200 individuals with war injuries have been treated in Burbeiye since fighting erupted earlier this year.
MSF urges all conflict parties to allow safe humanitarian access and protect civilians and aid workers alike.
The organisation calls on international donors to increase aid urgently, especially for shelter, water, and medical care in Mattar.
Without swift action, the already fragile conditions risk tipping into a full-scale health disaster among displaced populations.
