 by armed men amid escalating violence in the area.){kind=link}
By Otto Abut
Save the Children has announced the indefinite suspension of its operations in Walgak, Akobo County, Jonglei State, following the destruction and looting of its office and Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC) by armed men amid escalating violence in the area.
The humanitarian organization confirmed that its field office was burned to the ground and its health facility destroyed, forcing the withdrawal of all 30 staff members from Walgak. The attack has cut off essential health and humanitarian services for hundreds of children and families who depend on the organization.
Save the Children’s South Sudan Country Director, Chris Nyamandi, said the decision was taken after repeated attacks despite sustained engagement with authorities and community leaders.
“We have had no choice but to indefinitely suspend our operations in Walgak following repeated attacks, despite the devastating impact this will have on families and children who rely on us for essential services. When aid facilities are attacked, it is civilians, especially children, who suffer the consequences. These actions are unacceptable and must stop,” Nyamandi said.
The attacks followed the capture of four Save the Children vehicles last week. Armed groups reportedly looted and destroyed the office and health facility during weeks of intensified violence in Akobo County.
The organization confirmed that no staff members or community residents were injured during the attacks. However, it warned that displacement continues to rise, with more than 235,000 people displaced in the past four weeks due to escalating violence in eastern Jonglei State.
Conflict has intensified across South Sudan since late December, particularly in Jonglei—one of the country’s most food-insecure regions. Thousands of displaced people are arriving in neighboring areas with limited access to clean water, sanitation, and health services, and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
Save the Children said it has emergency supplies ready and will resume operations once safe and sustained access to affected areas is restored.
The United Nations has warned that continued violence will significantly worsen food insecurity in Jonglei and Upper Nile states and is fueling the spread of cholera, with treatment centers already overwhelmed.
Save the Children has called on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease attacks on humanitarian infrastructure, respect international humanitarian law, and ensure the protection of civilians, aid workers, and humanitarian assets. The organization stressed that safe, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access must be guaranteed without delay.