Arop Jonchol
Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières – MSF) has issued a statement announcing the suspension of its operations in Ulang County, Upper Nile State, following threats, attacks, and assaults on its staff working at the hospital there. The statement reads:
“We are deeply outraged by the attack on our hospital and the threats made against our medical team in Olalang.”
The statement, reviewed by Al-Wadi Newspaper, continued: “Such attacks on hospitals and healthcare workers are absolutely unacceptable. We are extremely concerned about the devastating impact that the closure of medical services will have on already vulnerable communities, who now face even greater barriers in accessing life-saving care.”
According to Al-Mawqif, an Arabic-language news outlet in Juba, dozens of armed individuals stormed the MSF hospital in Olalang, looted critical medical supplies, and threatened staff, forcing the suspension of operations at the only functioning health facility in the area.
More than 100 patients, including women receiving maternity care and children undergoing treatment, were forced to flee.
Local reports indicate the attack occurred amid rising violence in the region and a cholera outbreak, potentially leaving thousands without access to urgent medical care.
Doctors Without Borders strongly condemned this serious violation of humanitarian principles, calling on all parties to urgently protect civilians, health workers, and medical facilities.
MSF reaffirmed its commitment to providing healthcare wherever it is needed but stressed that the safety of patients and staff must be guaranteed before resuming operations.
