MSF cut medical support in Morobo, Yei River Counties
A convey of MSF vehicles. [Photo Courtesy of MSF]
Escalating violence in Morobo and Yei River Counties has forced a major humanitarian health provider to suspend operations—cutting off thousands from lifesaving services like maternal care and outpatient treatment.
The French international medical humanitarian organization – Médecins Sans Frontières, also known in English as “Doctors Without Borders” – (MSF) says it has suspended operation in the two counties “until further notice” in response to an alleged abduction on one of its staff by unknown gunmen during an evacuation exercise, early this week.
“We are outraged by this targeted attack,” Dr. Ferdinand Atte, MSF’s Head of Mission in South Sudan said in a statement posted on the MSF official website.
The incident took place just four days after medical staff from the Ministry of Health was pulled out of an MSF ambulance by the gunmen in the same areaand driven to the nearby bushes.
“Attacks on humanitarian workers serving the most vulnerable members of the society must stop," MSF warned.
The incident occurred during an evacuation of MSF staff from Morobo to Yei following the deteriorating security situation in the area.
“The four-vehicle convoy was stopped by armed gunmen. They ordered the MSF staff member, who was serving as the team leader of the convoy, out of the vehicle and pulled him into the thickets, while allowing the other vehicles and staff to proceed to Yei,” the statement read.
Yei and Morobo are frequently cut off from essential services due to the remoteness of the areas. Thus people there heavily rely on humanitarian organizations like MSF for essential medical services—now out of reach due to the growing violence.
“While we are deeply committed to providing care to those in need, we cannot keep our staff working in an unsafe environment.
The MSF provides primary healthcare services in In Yei River and Morobo counties by supporting four Ministry of Health facilities.
MSF has also suspended all activities in camps for internally displaced persons due to the relentless violence in Morobo County.
The organization offers outpatient consultations, routine vaccinations, and maternal and child healthcare, critical services which locals will not be able to access during the duration of the suspension of provision of medical support by the humanitarian medical organization.
Additionally, MSF also conducts mobile clinics and supports community-based healthcare through the. Boma Health Initiative program in the area.
This marks the second time MSF has been compelled to reduce provision of medical services in the area in under three months. In May, it was forced to cut activities due to escalating insecurity in the area.
Founded in 1971 in France by a group of doctors and journalists in response to the war and famine in Biafra, Nigeria, MSF provides emergency medical care to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare.
