South Sudan Bombs MSF Hospital in 10th Attack on Medical Facilities

250,000 people just lost their only healthcare provider. South Sudan's government bombed it.

The 10th Strike in 12 Months

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced that its hospital in Lankien, Jonglei state, was hit by a government airstrike Tuesday night. This marks the 10th attack on an MSF medical facility in South Sudan within 12 months—a pattern that's becoming impossible to ignore.

The hospital had evacuated patients hours before the strike after receiving intelligence about a possible attack. Still, one MSF staff member suffered minor injuries, and the facility's main warehouse was destroyed, taking with it most critical medical supplies.

The same day brought more bad news: MSF's health facility in Pieri, also in Jonglei, was looted by unknown assailants, rendering it "unusable for the local community." Staff from both locations fled with local residents, and their whereabouts remain unknown.

The Only Game in Town

Here's what makes this particularly devastating: MSF was the sole healthcare provider for approximately 250,000 people in Lankien and Pieri. In a region already facing severe food shortages and health crises, these attacks don't just destroy buildings—they eliminate entire communities' access to medical care.

Gul Badshah, MSF's operations manager in South Sudan, emphasized a crucial point: "We shared the GPS coordinates of all our facilities with the government and other parties to the conflict before, and we received confirmation that they are aware of our locations."

His next statement was even more pointed: "The government of South Sudan armed forces are the only armed party with the capacity to perform aerial attacks in the country."

A Pattern of Impunity

The attacks have forced MSF to close two hospitals in the Greater Upper Nile region and suspend general healthcare activities across Jonglei, Upper Nile, and Central Equatoria states. For an organization that has operated in present-day South Sudan for more than four decades, this represents an unprecedented crisis.

The UN reports that 280,000 people have been displaced by fighting and aerial bombardments in Jonglei between December and this week alone. South Sudan's government and army spokesmen have not responded to requests for comment.

The World's Youngest Failed State

South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011 as the world's newest sovereign state, has been mired in civil war, poverty, and massive corruption since its birth. The targeting of medical facilities represents a new low in a conflict that has already displaced millions and left the country dependent on humanitarian aid.

Badshah's words carry a warning that extends beyond South Sudan: "While we are aware of the enormous needs in the country, we find it unacceptable to be a target for attacks. We will make the necessary decisions to protect the safety of our staff and healthcare facilities."