By Otto Abut
The Minister of Health in the Abyei Administrative Area, Dr. Ayom Korchiek, has raised an alarm over a series of recurring disease outbreaks affecting thousands of residents and refugees who arrived from neighboring Sudan.
Speaking in an exclusive interview following a panel discussion on South Sudan’s shifting health and humanitarian needs, organized by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, Dr. Ayom said Abyei is facing “multiple health emergencies,” including hepatitis E, measles, and recurrent cholera.
He warned that the situation is being worsened by a continuous influx of displaced people and a critical lack of clean water and sanitation services.
According to the minister, hepatitis E remains the most persistent threat, with new cases reported continuously since 2023.
“Up to November, cumulative hepatitis E cases reached 280, with 38 deaths,” Dr. Ayom revealed.
He attributed the outbreak to contaminated water sources and poor sanitation, especially in remote areas where communities depend on untreated river water. He urged humanitarian partners to scale up critical WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) interventions, including borehole repairs, water testing, and sanitation campaigns.
He mentioned that at least 11 cases of measles outbreak were confirmed, resulting in the death of one child in Amiat, north of Abyei town, which sparked alarm among unvaccinated children who fled the fighting in Sudan.
Emergency teams from the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) responded with a partial campaign that reached 616 children, helping stem the spread.
“These children have not been vaccinated for more than three years due to conflict. It is our responsibility to protect them before the disease spreads further,” Dr. Ayom said. He added that Abyei expects additional measles vaccines for a full campaign in the weeks ahead.
The minister also highlighted severe shortages of medical supplies, noting that donations from partners and the national ministry no longer meet the growing needs.
“The resources we have are shared by many communities. Abyei needs urgent intervention,” he stressed.
Abyei continues to host large numbers of residents, refugees, and returnees, all relying on already overstretched health facilities.
Meanwhile, the official says the area successfully contained a cholera outbreak recorded between June and August, which was linked to the influx of refugees escaping Sudan’s brutal conflict.
Dr. Ayom praised the swift response from the national ministry and humanitarian partners for the emergency responses.
“We succeeded in controlling the cholera outbreak, although it came from Sudan.”
However, he warned that without sustained investment in clean water systems, the region remains vulnerable to future outbreaks.