, also known as Doctors Without Borders, has evacuated key staff from its healthcare facility in Lankien town, Nyirol County, Jonglei State, following a deterioration in security marked by nearby airstrikes. The organization says the decision was taken to protect staff and patients, even as essential medical services continue for the local population.){kind=link}
By Ginaba Lino
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has evacuated key staff from its healthcare facility in Lankien town, Nyirol County, Jonglei State, following a deterioration in security marked by nearby airstrikes. The organization says the decision was taken to protect staff and patients, even as essential medical services continue for the local population.
Despite the evacuation of some personnel, MSF confirmed that the Lankien health facility remains operational and continues to provide critical, life-saving medical care to communities in the area.
According to MSF, airstrikes on 29 December hit locations close to the health facility, the local market, and the airstrip commonly used by MSF aircraft for medical referrals and the delivery of humanitarian supplies. The strikes heightened fears over the safety of civilians, patients, and healthcare workers.
In the immediate aftermath of the bombardment, MSF medical teams treated 12 wounded patients at the Lankien facility. The injured included elderly men and women as well as children. One patient later died due to the severity of their injuries. Medical staff reported that the most common injuries were fractures and deep lacerations.
Despite the volatile security situation, MSF teams continued providing emergency medical care to the wounded and other patients in the days following the attack.
MSF currently operates healthcare services in Lankien, Pieri, Toch, and Akobo in Jonglei State, serving communities affected by ongoing conflict and limited access to basic health services.
The organization strongly condemned attacks near medical facilities and renewed its call for the protection of healthcare infrastructure, workers, and patients in accordance with international humanitarian law.
“MSF reiterates its call for the protection of medical facilities, healthcare workers, and patients, in accordance with international humanitarian law. MSF also calls for the protection of civilians and timely referrals of critical patients out of Lankien,” said Ibrahim Muhammad, MSF Head of Mission in South Sudan.
MSF reported that in 2025, at least eight attacks on health facilities and healthcare workers were recorded across South Sudan. These incidents resulted in the closure of two hospitals and the suspension of primary healthcare services in parts of Jonglei, Upper Nile, and Central Equatoria states.
MSF has been working in South Sudan since 1983, making it one of the organization’s largest operational contexts globally. The medical humanitarian group currently operates in six states and two administrative areas, delivering essential healthcare to conflict-affected populations.
In 2024, MSF teams across South Sudan conducted more than 800,000 outpatient consultations, provided inpatient care to 84,800 patients, and facilitated emergency referrals for critically ill and injured patients, including those from remote areas such as Lankien.