Escalating Attacks on Healthcare Devastate South Sudan’s Communities

In South Sudan, healthcare attacks have had dire consequences. MSF faced attacks on their outreach boats and hospitals, leading to halting healthcare services. The violence has drastically reduced patient access to essential medical care, with community health being critically undermined. This pattern of insecurity emphasizes the urgent need for protection of healthcare facilities.

In South Sudan, any attack on health facilities is not only deplorable, but it also brings serious repercussions for the communities that depend on these critical services. In January, two boats from Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) came under fire while traversing the Sobat River, prompting an immediate suspension of outreach activities to ensure the safety of medical personnel. Only three months later, MSF’s hospital in Ulang was attacked and looted, leading to a total halt of medical services. Access to healthcare has now become extremely limited for local populations.

On January 15, at around 2 p.m., MSF’s outreach team found themselves in grave danger while returning to Ulang after delivering medical supplies to a local hospital. The team was in two clearly marked boats when gunfire erupted, causing chaos and panic among them. Chuol, the team leader, instinctively jumped off the boat into the murky waters, fearing for his life. Meanwhile, Riek, who serves as a liaison for MSF and the local community, was nearby and rushed to the scene upon hearing the shots. What he saw was a drifting MSF boat with no sign of his colleagues.

“I was shocked, I thought my colleagues were dead,” Riek recounted. Fortunately, Chuol made it to shore and was able to confirm that most of his team was safe, though one member was initially unaccounted for. Thankfully, that individual was also located, albeit injured, and Riek quickly paddled out in a canoe to assist. Despite the injury being minor, it was a close call that left a lasting impression on the team.

MSF has been active in Ulang since 2018, facilitating healthcare across 13 locations along the river. Following the attack, MSF had no choice but to suspend all outreach operations due to safety concerns, even as they initiated an investigation into the incident. Ulang remains an unstable environment rife with intercommunal violence and armed conflicts, impacting both residents and those providing essential services.

Both Chuol and Riek expressed their emotional distress following the attack. “I had trouble sleeping the first few nights after the attack,” Chuol admitted, adding that Riek also felt an overwhelming sense of anxiety for days afterward, fearing for his colleagues’ safety. The impact of such violence extends beyond the individual; it impairs access to essential healthcare services for those in desperate need.

At the Ulang hospital, MSF offers a range of medical services, including maternal and emergency care, but the patient numbers have dwindled dramatically. Dr. Philip observed, “Since we had to suspend our outreach activities, we have had fewer patients than usual.” Patients now face the challenge of accessing medical assistance, often waiting days or weeks for transportation amidst impassable roads and flooded areas during rainy seasons.

Tragically, one woman arrived at the hospital too late to save her stillborn twins after waiting two days to be transported from Nasir, which has been undermined by staff shortages. “She was angry and sad—sad about losing her twins and angry that the attack happened,” recounted Veronica, an MSF midwife. This illustrates the grim reality that violence not only harms individuals but also creates barriers to life-saving healthcare.

Escalating conflicts between government forces and local armed groups have further exacerbated the situation in Upper Nile state. On April 14, armed men raided MSF’s hospital in Ulang, threatening staff and stealing crucial supplies. This incident left the community without a functioning medical facility. Along with raising safety concerns, the attacks have forced a complete suspension of vitally needed healthcare services.

Furthering the crisis, on May 3, a bombing of the MSF hospital in Old Fangak caused severe damage, destroying the pharmacy that was critical for both hospital and outreach operations. As thousands fled the area, MSF had to evacuate the wounded to a temporary facility. Unfortunately, the only healthcare services available to approximately 110,000 residents were lost in this attack.

David Charo Kahindi, the MSF medical coordinator in South Sudan, was present during the bombing in Old Fangak. He described the terrifying moments when the bombing began, with helicopters overhead and chaos unfolding. “There is nothing left,” he lamented. The hospital was a refuge for over a decade, and now it is just a memory—an emblem of the terrible price communities pay in the face of ongoing violence against healthcare.

The relentless violence against healthcare facilities in South Sudan has escalated from tragedy to crisis, undermining not only medical services but also the health and well-being of the local populations. As MSF faced attacks on both their boats and hospitals, the consequences have been dire: from loss of life to the complete loss of healthcare access in some areas. The need for peaceful resolution and protection of medical facilities has never been more critical, as these acts of violence apologize the individuals who rely on them while underscoring the grave situation facing healthcare workers in the region.

Original Source: www.doctorswithoutborders.org