![Members of the MSF logistics team distribute blankets and jerry cans in Nyin Deng Ayuel displacement camp in Twic County on 10/04/2022. [Photo by Verity Kowal/MSF]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MSB123666.jpg?resize=1000%2C750&ssl=1)
On September 20, unknown armed criminals attacked well-marked MSF vehicles returning to the town of Yei, the capital of Central Equatoria State’s Yei River County, kidnapping MSF staff and one staff member of a partner organization, as well as looting the MSF staff’s personal belongings.
Iqbal Huda, MSF Head of Mission in South Sudan, strongly condemned the attack on health workers in an area where people already face difficulty accessing healthcare.
“We are deeply shocked by this unacceptable attack on the provision of neutral and impartial humanitarian assistance for communities in need,” Huda said in a statement.
He said that movements and activities in Yei and Morobo had been suspended “until there are concrete guarantees that medical and humanitarian work can continue without restrictions.”
While the two abducted staff were safely released 24 hours later, this was the third attack on humanitarian organizations occurring around Yei in three months, pointing to a systematic attack on the provision of humanitarian aid.
Huda said that until the safety of MSF operations and staff was assured, the medical charity could not guarantee the resumption of activities in the area.
“The real victims of these incidents are the most vulnerable people living in underserved areas where MSF is the only provider of healthcare services outside of Yei town,” he said.
He called on all armed groups to uphold their responsibilities under international humanitarian law and respect the provision of humanitarian assistance.
“Attacks against humanitarians and healthcare workers are unacceptable and they directly affect the provision of healthcare for communities who desperately need it,” Huda said.
