Gunmen attack MSF boats in Nasir

JUBA – Medical charity, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has reported an armed assault on two of its boats in Nasir County, located in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State, on Wednesday.

The attack, carried out by unidentified gunmen, resulted in one MSF staff member sustaining injuries.

The boats, clearly marked with MSF insignia, were returning to Ulang after delivering medical supplies to Nasir County hospital when they came under fire.

Six MSF staff members were aboard at the time of the attack. While all personnel jumped into the river and swam to safety in a nearby village, one staff member was injured during the incident.

Zakaria Mwatia, MSF’s head of mission in South Sudan, denounced the assault, calling it a blatant violation of the safety of healthcare workers and a reflection of the increasingly dangerous conditions faced by humanitarian organizations operating in the country.

“Such attacks on healthcare workers are unacceptable and highlight the volatile environment in which humanitarian organizations operate in South Sudan,” Zakaria stated.

“The people living in Nasir and Ulang counties already face limited access to healthcare and the impact of such violence further jeopardizes the delivery of essential medical services, placing them at increased risk,” he added.

In the aftermath of the assault, MSF announced the suspension of all outreach activities in both Nasir and Ulang counties, citing concerns for the safety of its staff.

The organization has called for immediate actions to ensure the protection of humanitarian workers and the unimpeded delivery of essential medical care.

MSF emphasized that the attack constitutes a violation of humanitarian principles and international law, underscoring the need to safeguard those providing vital aid in conflict zones.