MSF Shuts Down Medical Operations in Yei and Morobo Over Targeted Violence

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has suspended all medical operations in South Sudan’s Yei River and Morobo counties for at least six weeks after a staff member was abducted during an evacuation.

The decision follows a series of targeted attacks on humanitarian personnel, including another recent abduction involving health ministry staff from an MSF ambulance along the same route.

The incident occurred during the evacuation of MSF personnel from Morobo to Yei due to rising insecurity. A convoy of four MSF vehicles was intercepted by armed men, who removed the team leader from one of the vehicles and dragged him into nearby bushes. The remaining vehicles and staff were allowed to proceed to Yei. The abducted staff member was released several hours later.

“This targeted attack is outrageous. Violence against humanitarian workers who are supporting the most vulnerable must end,” said Dr Ferdinand Atte, MSF’s Head of Mission in South Sudan. “We are dedicated to serving communities in need, but our staff cannot continue operating in such unsafe conditions.”

The abduction is part of a wider pattern of violence in Morobo and Yei River counties. In the past three months alone, MSF has recorded multiple incidents including abductions of aid workers, arson attacks, looting of hospitals and destruction of medical facilities. Seven of these incidents involved the kidnapping of humanitarian staff.

Dr Atte called for urgent intervention by authorities and armed groups to ensure security and enable humanitarian access.

“We demand accountability and firm guarantees from authorities and all parties involved in the conflict. Civilians, health workers, patients and health facilities must be protected,” he said.

Residents of the two counties live in isolated and hard to reach locations that are frequently cut off from essential services due to insecurity and poor infrastructure. As a result, they depend heavily on humanitarian organisations like MSF for access to healthcare.

This is the second time in three months that MSF has been forced to scale down operations in the area. In May 2025, the organisation reduced its activities due to heightened insecurity. It has also suspended its services in camps for internally displaced persons in Morobo County due to continuing violence.

The suspension of activities affects critical services. MSF had been supporting four Ministry of Health facilities in the area, providing outpatient care, maternal and child health services, vaccinations and mobile clinic outreach under the Boma Health Initiative. Between January and June 2025 alone, MSF conducted 14,500 outpatient consultations, 1,192 antenatal visits, and supported 438 childbirths in Yei and Morobo counties.

“MSF is one of the few organisations delivering healthcare in these counties. When violence disrupts our operations, it is the local people who suffer the most,” Dr Atte said.

Healthcare Services Delivered by MSF (Jan – Jun 2025)