(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has halted all medical activities in Yei River and Morobo counties of Central Equatoria State for at least six weeks, following the abduction of one of its staff members. The incident marks the second such abduction on the same road in less than a week, raising alarm over the safety of humanitarian workers in the area.
The abduction occurred as MSF was evacuating its staff from Morobo to Yei due to growing insecurity. A convoy of four MSF vehicles was stopped by armed men, who singled out the team leader and led him into the nearby bush, allowing the rest of the convoy to proceed. The staff member was released a few hours later.
MSF’s Head of Mission in South Sudan, Dr Ferdinand Atte, strongly condemned the attack, describing it as part of a disturbing pattern of violence against humanitarian workers.
“We are outraged by this targeted attack. Attacks on humanitarian workers serving the most vulnerable must stop,” he said. “While we remain committed to providing care to those in need, we cannot continue to do so in an environment where our staff are at risk.”
The suspension of activities follows a worrying increase in attacks on aid workers and healthcare facilities in Morobo and Yei River counties over the past three months. MSF reported at least seven incidents involving abductions of aid workers, along with cases of arson, violent looting of hospitals, and destruction of medical infrastructure.
Dr Atte called on authorities and all armed groups operating in the region to guarantee the safety of civilians and humanitarian personnel.
“We demand accountability and concrete guarantees from the authorities and all parties involved in the conflict. Safe and unhindered access to populations in need must be ensured, and medical personnel and facilities protected, before we can resume operations,” he said.
Communities in Yei and Morobo rely heavily on humanitarian support due to weak infrastructure and continuing insecurity. MSF has been one of the few medical agencies offering vital services in the region, especially in remote and hard to reach locations.
In May this year, MSF was already forced to scale down operations in Morobo due to worsening security conditions. It has now also suspended services in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), citing repeated violent incidents.
The recent suspension is the latest in a series of disruptions to MSF’s work in South Sudan, highlighting the mounting challenges facing humanitarian organisations.
“When such attacks occur, it is the local people who suffer the most. These actions severely limit access to life saving medical care,” said Dr Atte.
Before the suspension, MSF supported four Ministry of Health facilities in Yei and Morobo counties. It provided outpatient consultations, routine immunisations, and maternal and child health services. It also ran mobile clinics and supported community health through the Boma Health Initiative.
Between January and June 2025 alone, MSF conducted:
| Service Provided | Number of Cases |
|---|---|
| Outpatient Consultations | 14,500 |
| Antenatal Consultations | 1,192 |
| Maternal Deliveries Assisted | 438 |
The suspension of these services represents a serious gap in healthcare access, especially in a context where public services are already under strain. The interruption not only risks health outcomes but also impacts local trust in humanitarian access and protection.
The value of the services MSF offers is difficult to quantify, but in a region where a basic medical consultation is lacking, the impact on the local population is significant.
MSF reiterated its willingness to return and continue serving communities once it receives assurances of safety for its personnel and patients.
