Doctors Without Borders has suspended all operations in two South Sudanese counties for at least six weeks after one of its staff members was abducted — the second such attack in four days.
The medical charity, known by its French acronym MSF, said in a statement extended to Radio Tamazuj Tuesday that the staffer was taken Tuesday by armed men during an evacuation convoy from Morobo to Yei amid worsening security. The abducted worker, who was leading the convoy, was released hours later.
The incident occurred on the same road where South Sudan’s health ministry staff were seized from an MSF ambulance just days earlier.
“We are outraged by this targeted attack,” said Dr. Ferdinand Atte, MSF’s head of mission in South Sudan. “Attacks on humanitarian workers serving the most vulnerable must stop.”
The suspension affects Yei River and Morobo counties in Central Equatoria State, where MSF supports health facilities, mobile clinics and community-based care. Between January and June, the group provided over 14,500 outpatient consultations and assisted in 438 births in the area.
The abduction is part of a surge in violence against aid workers and medical facilities in the area. In the past three months, MSF said it had documented multiple incidents in Morobo, including abductions, arson and hospital lootings. Seven attacks involved aid worker kidnappings.
“We demand accountability and concrete guarantees for safety before resuming work,” Atte said.
This marks the second time since May that MSF has scaled back operations in the area due to insecurity. The group has also withdrawn from displacement camps in Morobo County.
Residents in the remote, conflict-affected region rely heavily on humanitarian aid. MSF is one of the few medical providers there, supporting four government-run health centers.
South Sudan has seen a sharp rise in attacks on medical personnel and facilities this year. In January, gunmen fired on MSF boats in Upper Nile state, injuring one staffer. In April, armed men looted MSF’s hospital in Ulang, leaving 150,000 people without care. On May 3, helicopters bombed an MSF hospital in Old Fangak, killing seven civilians and wounding 27, including four staff.
MSF said it will reassess the security situation before reopening programs in the two counties.