MSF Hospital Struck in South Sudan: Aid Workers Missing

Fri Feb 06 2026 00:52:09 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A hospital operated by Doctors Without Borders in South Sudan was hit by air strikes, leading to the disappearance of multiple aid workers. The recent escalation of violence raises serious humanitarian concerns.

A hospital run by Doctors Without Borders in Jonglei state, South Sudan, was struck by air strikes from government forces, which has resulted in the disappearance of an unknown number of aid workers. The situation has led to the looting of another MSF facility and exacerbated the dire humanitarian crisis in the region amid rising tensions between government and opposition forces.

Multiple aid workers are missing following air strikes that hit a hospital in South Sudan, near the Ethiopian border, according to the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The attack, which occurred in Jonglei state, involved government forces and has yet to elicit a response from the South Sudanese government.

In a separate incident on the same day, another MSF facility in Pieri was looted, rendering it unusable for the local community. Our colleagues had to flee with the community and their fate and whereabouts are still unknown, stated MSF.

The recent violence comes amid escalating conflicts in Jonglei, where fighting between government forces and rebels loyal to First Vice-President Riek Machar has intensified. Concerns are growing that this could lead to a broader civil war in what is already one of the world’s most food-insecure regions.

Since December, approximately 280,000 individuals have been displaced due to ongoing violence and aerial bombardments. MSF expresses concern over their critical role in providing healthcare to around 250,000 people in Lankien and Pieri, warning that attacks on their facilities threaten the health of the local population.

Despite the challenges, MSF had preemptively evacuated patients from the Lankien hospital after receiving warnings of potential strikes. However, the main warehouse was destroyed and essential medical supplies were lost during the attack.

Gul Badshah, MSF's operations manager, condemned the targeting of healthcare facilities, highlighting that such acts are unacceptable, especially as they hinder humanitarian efforts in a nation already in desperate need.

Compounding the crisis, the South Sudanese government imposed restrictions on humanitarian access in opposition-controlled regions of Jonglei, further limiting MSF's ability to provide emergency medical assistance.

This situation underscores the ongoing struggles in South Sudan, which has faced conflict since its independence in 2011, leading to thousands of deaths and a humanitarian catastrophe.