More than two dozen Doctors Without Borders workers remain unaccounted for a month after attacks in South Sudan, the medical charity said.
Two facilities operated by the group, known by French acronym MSF, were attacked on Feb. 3 in Jonglei State, northeast of the capital, Juba, where violence has displaced an estimated 280,000 people since December.
A hospital in the town of Lankien was bombed by government forces, MSF said, while another medical facility in the town of Pieri was raided by “unknown assailants.” Both were located in opposition-held areas.
Staff working at the two facilities fled alongside much of the local population into deeply rural areas where armed clashes and aerial bombardments were ongoing.
According to reports, the health workers were caught up in violence that erupted in a volatile area where armed groups have been active. The attacks reportedly targeted locations along routes commonly used by aid workers, leaving uncertainty over the fate of those unaccounted for.
Humanitarian organizations expressed deep concern over the disappearances, stressing that medical personnel serve vulnerable communities and should never be targeted in conflict situations. The missing workers were said to be part of teams providing essential healthcare services in remote areas, where access to medical support is already severely limited.
South Sudan continues to face sporadic violence despite a fragile peace agreement intended to end years of civil war. Insecurity in certain regions has complicated aid delivery, forcing humanitarian agencies to suspend or scale back operations in high-risk zones.
Officials have called for urgent investigations into the attacks and for the safe return of the missing workers. Aid groups warned that continued threats against health personnel could worsen an already dire humanitarian situation, as millions rely on external support for food, healthcare, and protection.
The incident underscores the persistent security challenges in South Sudan and highlights the growing risks faced by frontline humanitarian staff working to assist communities affected by conflict and displacement.
