, also known as Doctors Without Borders, has expressed grave concern over the safety and well-being of 26 staff members who remain unaccounted for following a surge in violence in Lankien and Pieri of Jonglei State.){kind=link}
By Otto Abut
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has expressed grave concern over the safety and well-being of 26 staff members who remain unaccounted for following a surge in violence in Lankien and Pieri of Jonglei State.
The violence reportedly erupted on Sunday, March 1, 2026, triggering widespread displacement and causing MSF to lose contact with 26 out of 291 staff members working in the two areas.
MSF’s Head of Mission in South Sudan, Yashovardhan, said the violence has taken a devastating toll on healthcare services and the people providing them.
“We are deeply concerned about what has happened to our colleagues and the communities we serve. Medical workers must never be targeted,” he said.
Communication channels remain extremely limited, especially for those who have fled into remote bush areas. MSF fears some staff members may be facing harsh conditions that prevent them from contacting the organization.
Due to the worsening security situation, MSF has suspended all medical activities in Lankien and Pieri, leaving an estimated 250,000 people without access to essential healthcare services.
Several frontline health workers have been displaced and are sheltering in remote locations with limited access to food, water, and basic services.
MSF says it is making every effort to re-establish contact with the missing staff and support affected employees and their families. Where security conditions allow, emergency assistance has begun in areas hosting displaced populations.
The organization reiterated its call for the protection of medical facilities, patients, and healthcare workers at all times, stressing that attacks on healthcare are unacceptable and deprive vulnerable communities of life-saving services.
Reports indicate that MSF staff had evacuated the hospital compound before the fighting intensified, following rising tensions and warnings of a possible attack on the town.