 has announced the resumption of critical medical activities in Yei County, Central Equatoria State.){kind=link}
By: Ginaba Lino
After more than three months of suspended operations due to worsening insecurity, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has announced the resumption of critical medical activities in Yei County, Central Equatoria State.
The decision marks a cautious yet determined return to providing vital healthcare for communities affected by violence and displacement.
MSF suspended its activities in both Yei and Morobo counties on 5 August 2025, following a spike in security incidents, including the abduction of an MSF staff member and, days earlier, the kidnapping of a Ministry of Health employee from an MSF ambulance.
The humanitarian organization will now restart work through a redesigned project model focused on minimizing risks while maintaining lifesaving services.
“Providing much-needed care to mothers needing safe delivery, children with malaria, and people fleeing violence has always been our motivation,” said Dr. Ferdinand Atte, MSF Country Coordinator for South Sudan.
“As we begin this phased resumption of activities, we are changing how we work to keep our staff safe but our commitment remains the same: to be here, providing neutral and impartial care for the communities in need.”
While MSF will limit its physical presence to Yei Payam, the organization will not resume outreach activities nor operations in Morobo County due to volatile conditions along key routes such as Yei–Morobo, Yei–Lasu, and Yei–Maridi roads.
However, MSF will continue dialogue with all relevant parties to identify safer, more sustainable ways to support health facilities outside Yei town.
The revamped project will strengthen emergency and maternal healthcare in Yei, focusing on Yei Civil Hospital and Jansuk Clinic. Upgrades to the hospital’s maternity ward and operating theatre aim to expand capacity for caesarean sections and other life-saving surgical interventions. In addition, MSF plans to enhance care for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including through community-based initiatives and support for the one-stop center at Yei Hospital.
“To mitigate the risks that led to our earlier suspension, outreach activities to remote areas will remain halted for now,” Dr. Atte added. “We deeply regret the impact on communities far from Yei town, but staff safety cannot be compromised. We will continue engaging with all sides to find safer ways to reach those most in need.”
MSF is currently in discussions with local and national authorities to finalize the modalities for a safe and swift resumption of operations. The organization calls on all parties to the conflict to guarantee the protection of medical and humanitarian personnel, allowing neutral aid to reach those most affected by the ongoing crisis in Central Equatoria State.