Deadly Attack Targets Vital Medical Facility
A hospital in Old Fangak, South Sudan, operated by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF), came under heavy aerial bombardment early Saturday, resulting in severe casualties and extensive damage. According to MSF and local authorities, at least seven people were killed and over 20 injured in the attack, including a nine-month-old child. The bombing destroyed the hospital’s pharmacy, completely eliminating critical medical supplies vital to the area’s population.
The hospital in Old Fangak served as the only medical facility catering to over 110,000 residents, many already struggling due to massive displacement caused by flooding. Without this resource, tens of thousands of civilians face an uncertain medical future amid ongoing conflict.
“The bombing of the MSF hospital constitutes an unacceptable violation of international humanitarian law. Healthcare facilities must remain protected and accessible at all times,” stated Mamman Mustapha, MSF’s head of mission in South Sudan.
Witnesses described two distinct phases of the attack. Initially, two helicopter gunships targeted the hospital’s pharmacy, igniting massive flames that quickly consumed the entire medical supplies inventory. Subsequently, a drone strike hit a nearby market, further intensifying panic and adding to the number of casualties.
Escalating Conflict and Regional Instability
The attack on MSF’s facility in Old Fangak is part of a broader intensification of fighting in South Sudan, where President Salva Kiir’s government forces, supported by Ugandan allies, have increased aerial raids since March. These military operations, aimed at opposition strongholds, signify a marked escalation following the collapse of a power-sharing agreement between President Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar. This agreement was initially seen as essential for stabilizing the nation following years of civil strife that erupted soon after South Sudan’s independence in 2011.
Old Fangak itself is predominantly inhabited by the Nuer ethnic group, historically aligned with opposition leader Riek Machar, who is reportedly under house arrest on allegations of subversion. The region has endured repeated violence owing to ethnic and political allegiances influencing the conflict dynamics. This recent strike not only raises tensions significantly but has displaced more than 30,000 local residents, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation.
Fangak County Commissioner Biel Butros Biel remarked, “This violent act against a civilian hospital is another grim reminder of the human cost of this conflict. The international community must urgently act to uphold humanitarian laws and stop further aggression.”
Concerns grow among international observers that the involvement of Ugandan military support could signal a broader regional dimension to the conflict, potentially destabilizing wider areas across eastern Africa.
Historical Context and Humanitarian Challenges
South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, gained independence from Sudan in July 2011, following decades of conflict. However, internal peace was short-lived as the country plunged into civil war in December 2013, sparked by political rivalry between President Salva Kiir, a Dinka, and his then-deputy Riek Machar, a Nuer. This ethnic and political divide triggered widespread violence, displacement, and significant humanitarian crises that persist today.
Repeated cycles of conflict have devastated the country’s healthcare infrastructure, with hospitals and clinics frequently targeted in military operations. According to the United Nations, more than two million people remain internally displaced, with millions more dependent on humanitarian aid for survival. South Sudan consistently ranks among the nations with the direst humanitarian crises worldwide, with high levels of malnutrition, inadequate health services, and limited access to clean water and sanitation.
“Every attack on a hospital deepens the humanitarian emergency,” said a United Nations spokesperson. “Facilities providing essential medical care must be universally respected by all conflict parties.”
This latest incident underscores the ongoing vulnerability of humanitarian operations in conflict zones. Health workers and facilities, despite protections afforded under international humanitarian law, remain at significant risk, compromising their critical role in providing life-saving assistance to populations caught in protracted conflicts.
In response to this recent bombardment, international and local humanitarian agencies have demanded immediate accountability from those involved and called for strengthened international oversight to prevent further violations. The broader impacts of this incident are being closely monitored, as continued insecurity severely limits humanitarian access and response capabilities across South Sudan and the surrounding region.