MSF Reopens Yei Operations, Morobo Still Closed

(YEI COUNTY) – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has resumed its health services in Yei County, Central Equatoria State, after more than three months of suspension due to insecurity. However, outreach activities outside Yei Payam remain on hold because of continued safety concerns on major roads leading to the area.

According to MSF, operations in Morobo County remain fully closed until further notice. The organisation explained that it could not safely access communities in Morobo because of the continued presence of armed groups and the risk of attacks and abductions.

MSF suspended all its medical activities in Yei and Morobo on 5 August 2025, following several security incidents, including the abduction of an MSF staff member. The suspension came just days after another serious incident in which a Ministry of Health staff member was taken from an MSF ambulance.

Since then, discussions between MSF, local authorities, and community leaders have been ongoing to find ways of ensuring the safety of humanitarian staff and patients.

The humanitarian agency said that although it is resuming limited activities in Yei, it will not immediately return to its full operations until it is satisfied that the environment is secure enough for staff movement.

The organisation plans to redesign its project to strengthen security protocols and reduce exposure to risks in volatile areas.

“We are committed to providing medical care to the people of Yei County, but we must also ensure that our staff can work safely,” an MSF official said.

Humanitarian operations in Central Equatoria State have been affected by insecurity along the Yei–Morobo and Yei–Kaya roads, which are key routes for delivering supplies and reaching rural communities.

Aid agencies have repeatedly raised concerns that insecurity in these corridors has limited access to health care and other humanitarian support for thousands of residents and displaced people.

Local residents in Yei town have welcomed the news of MSF’s partial return, expressing hope that health services will improve.

“People here rely a lot on MSF because they help with medicines and treatment,” said a resident in Yei. “We only pray that the roads become safe again.”

MSF is one of the main health partners in Central Equatoria, providing free medical care to communities affected by conflict and displacement. Its decision to temporarily withdraw earlier this year left a significant gap in healthcare services, particularly for maternal and child health.

The group said it will continue to assess the situation closely and hopes to expand its work again if conditions allow.