MSF Resumes Limited Operations in Central Equatoria

(YEI COUNTY) – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has resumed its medical operations in Yei County, Central Equatoria State, after more than three months of suspension caused by insecurity. The return of the international medical aid organisation brings cautious relief to local communities who have struggled to access healthcare since August.

MSF said it has restarted services within Yei town but will continue to restrict outreach activities to surrounding areas due to ongoing security threats along major routes. The group added that its operations in Morobo County remain completely suspended until further notice because staff cannot safely reach affected populations.

The organisation halted its medical activities on 5 August 2025 following a series of violent incidents, including the abduction of an MSF employee and the kidnapping of a Ministry of Health staff member from an MSF ambulance. The events forced the organisation to withdraw staff and close facilities in both Yei and Morobo.

Since then, MSF has engaged local authorities and community leaders in dialogue to establish safer working conditions for health personnel and patients. While operations have now resumed at a limited scale, the group said full restoration of services will depend on further improvements in security.

“We are committed to providing medical care to the people of Yei County, but our staff’s safety remains our top priority,” an MSF representative told Jakony.com®. “We plan to redesign our projects to include stronger safety measures and new ways of reaching patients without exposing staff to unnecessary risks.”

Humanitarian operations in Central Equatoria State have been repeatedly affected by instability along key access routes such as the Yei–Morobo and Yei–Kaya roads. These corridors are vital for delivering medical supplies and humanitarian aid but remain insecure due to the presence of armed groups and frequent ambushes.

Aid agencies say the prolonged insecurity has worsened the health situation for thousands of residents and internally displaced people who depend on humanitarian services for basic treatment.

Local residents have welcomed MSF’s partial return. “People here rely heavily on MSF for medicine and treatment,” said a Yei town resident. “We only pray that the roads become safe again so they can reach everyone.”

MSF remains one of the main health partners in Central Equatoria, offering free medical services including maternal and child health care, treatment for communicable diseases, and emergency response. Its temporary withdrawal earlier this year left a major gap in the public health system, particularly in rural areas.

The organisation said it will continue monitoring the situation and hopes to expand its services gradually if conditions allow.

The partial reopening of MSF’s facilities marks a small but significant step towards restoring essential health care in conflict affected parts of South Sudan’s southern border region.