At least three people, including two young children, have died in Kediba Payam, Western Equatoria State’s Mundri East County, due to lack of essential health services and medical supplies following recent clashes in the area, local authorities have confirmed.
The county has, since 24 September, witnessed military clashes when a combined force of the National Salvation Front (NAS) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) seized control of the SSPDF’s garrison in Kediba, displacing over 30,000 people. The SSPDF launched an offensive and recaptured Kediba in early October.
The Mundri East County Health Director, Ladu Simon, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that the county has been severely affected after armed conflict erupted two months ago, resulting in five health facilities being looted and thousands of residents fleeing into the bush.
“Our communities are suffering. They have no access to health services, no essential drugs, and they are hiding in the bush,” he lamented. “This is the rainy season, and most cases are malaria, diarrhoea, and pneumonia. People are also facing hunger.”
He appealed to humanitarian organizations and the government to urgently prioritize emergency health support in the area.
“As leaders, we must put the community first because it is painful when people suffer and die because they lack basic services,” Ladu stressed.
For his part, Gibson Manuru, the officer in charge of Kediba Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC), confirmed that the facility has been without medicines for weeks, leaving health workers helpless.
“There are staff at the facility, but no drugs to treat patients,” he said. “Solar panels were looted, some doors were removed, and the situation became worse after the clashes between SSPDF and SPLM-IO in September and October.”
He warned that without urgent intervention, more deaths, especially among children, are expected. He added that all patients are currently referred to Lui Hospital.
Among the fatalities, two children, about two years old, reportedly died from severe anaemia. Manuru said he reported the cases to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Meanwhile, Rose Obede, Director General at the Western Equatoria State Ministry of Health, acknowledged the dire situation and said the state government and partners are mobilizing support.
“The situation in Kediba is very bad. All the facilities there were looted,” she said. “We have essential drugs ready, including anti-malaria, and teams will soon be deployed to provide mobile health services.”
Obede added that humanitarian partners, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and SPEDP, are planning to reach affected communities as calm is gradually returning.