In a statement marking one year since the bombing of its hospital in Old Fangak, MSF said the escalation in air attacks reflects a broader pattern of violence that has devastated medical services in conflict-affected areas.
“All available information indicates that the SSPDF and UPDF are the only parties with the capacity for aerial bombing,” the organisation said, directly attributing responsibility for the strikes to the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
The 18 airstrikes recorded in the first three months of 2026 follow a dramatic surge in aerial attacks last year, when MSF documented 138 strikes compared to just two in 2024. Most of the recent bombardments have been concentrated in Jonglei, a region already grappling with displacement, food insecurity, and limited access to basic services.
MSF warned that the continued use of air power in populated and opposition-held areas is compounding the collapse of healthcare infrastructure. The medical charity currently operates only two hospitals in the conflict-affected parts of Jonglei — facilities that now serve a population of more than one million people.
The organisation said repeated attacks on its operations have left hundreds of thousands without access to care. In 2025 alone, more than 400,000 people lost access to MSF-supported healthcare following the bombing of Old Fangak hospital and the looting of its facilities in Ulang.
A further 366,000 people were cut off in early 2026 after additional attacks, including the bombing of Lankien hospital and looting incidents in several locations.
“The bombings of Old Fangak and Lankien by South Sudanese government forces cannot go unanswered,” said MSF President Isabelle Defourny. “MSF calls on the South Sudanese authorities to provide clear explanations and make a formal, public commitment to protect hospitals and health workers.”
The Old Fangak hospital was struck on 3 May 2025 despite being clearly marked and its coordinates shared with authorities, MSF said. A subsequent drone strike on a nearby market killed and injured civilians, including aid workers. The facility has not reopened, further straining an already fragile health system.
Since January 2025, MSF says it has recorded at least 12 attacks on its staff and facilities across South Sudan, including bombings, looting, and abductions. Most of these incidents occurred in opposition-controlled areas, forcing the suspension of critical services and leaving communities with few or no medical options.
The humanitarian consequences have been stark. MSF described conditions in places like Akobo, where residents were ordered to evacuate ahead of a military offensive, only for essential infrastructure to be destroyed or looted. Vulnerable groups, including the elderly and people with disabilities, were reportedly left behind without access to food, water, or care.
With no surgical capacity remaining in Jonglei’s conflict-affected مناطق, MSF said its remaining facilities are overstretched, often forced to treat patients outdoors while reaching displaced populations in remote and hard-to-access areas.
The organisation urged all parties to the conflict to immediately halt attacks on medical facilities and ensure their protection, stressing that continued impunity risks further deterioration of an already dire situation.
“Those responsible must be held accountable,” MSF said. “Without accountability, impunity prevails.”
