Civilians ‘left to die’ as violence, aid restrictions deepen crisis in Jonglei

JUBA — Escalating violence and restricted humanitarian access in parts of Jonglei and Upper Nile states have left tens of thousands of civilians stranded without food, shelter, or medical care, as aid agencies warn of a rapidly worsening humanitarian catastrophe.

According to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), intensifying clashes between government forces and opposition groups around Lankien in Jonglei State and along the Sobat River in Upper Nile have displaced tens of thousands of people, many of whom are now living in the open after their homes were burned.

At least 25,000 displaced people have gathered in Chuil town in Jonglei, while thousands more remain scattered in remote villages and swampy areas, largely cut off from assistance. An additional 28,000 people have fled to Minkaman in Lakes State, with others seeking refuge in Ulang County of Upper Nile.

Survivors describe a dire situation marked by extreme deprivation. “This situation is about life and death,” said Nyamai, a displaced mother of three in Chuil. “At one point, we survived by boiling leaves from the trees. We had nothing else.”

Despite mounting needs, MSF says humanitarian access to some of the worst-affected areas remains severely limited, leaving thousands without life-saving assistance.

“People continue to arrive every day… but patients die due to lack of medicine,” said Tuna Turkmen, MSF emergency project coordinator, noting that requests for access to some areas have so far been unsuccessful.

MSF warned that limited and irregular access is undermining efforts to respond effectively, particularly in remote communities where aid has yet to reach.

The medical charity has called on all parties to the conflict to guarantee safe and sustained humanitarian access, warning that continued restrictions could lead to a full-scale catastrophe.

The crisis has been compounded by a pattern of attacks on health facilities, which MSF says has crippled an already fragile healthcare system.

In 2025, an MSF-supported hospital in Ulang was looted and destroyed. More recently, Lankien hospital was bombed, effectively shutting down the two main referral facilities in the region.

“We are seeing a deeply alarming pattern of attacks on health facilities and health care workers, alongside violence against civilians,” Turkmen said.

With the destruction of key hospitals, Chuil has become one of the few remaining functional health centres, now overwhelmed by the influx of displaced people.

MSF data viewed by Sudans Post from Chuil highlights a worsening nutrition crisis. Of more than 1,200 children screened, 54 per cent were found to be acutely malnourished, while over one in five pregnant and breastfeeding women were also acutely malnourished.

Aid agencies warn that shortages of clean water and sanitation facilities are increasing the risk of disease outbreaks, including cholera.

Although MSF has scaled up its operations—providing thousands of medical consultations, expanding health facilities, and distributing emergency supplies—the organisation says the response remains insufficient.

“Humanitarian organisations are increasing activities… but the response still falls short,” said Zakaria Mwatia, MSF Head of Mission in South Sudan. “Many remote communities remain without life-saving assistance.”

The unfolding crisis underscores the vulnerability of civilians trapped in active conflict zones, many of whom have been displaced multiple times.

Elderly survivors like 77-year-old Moses, who fled Lankien, say the scale of destruction is unlike anything they have experienced before.

“I have lived through many wars, but this kind of displacement has never happened before,” he said. “We are now living under the trees.”

MSF warned that any further escalation of fighting around displacement hubs such as Chuil could have devastating consequences, potentially cutting off one of the last lifelines for thousands of people.

The organisation urged all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and avoid targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, including healthcare facilities.

As violence continues and aid access remains constrained, humanitarian groups warn that without urgent intervention, the situation in Jonglei and surrounding areas could spiral into a full-blown disaster.