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In a devastating blow to healthcare access in Upper Nile State, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), known internationally as Doctors Without Borders, has suspended all medical operations in Ulang County following a violent armed attack on its facility.
The assault took place in the early hours of April 14, when dozens of armed men stormed the MSF-run hospital and office in Ulang town.
Staff were threatened at gunpoint as essential medical supplies and equipment were looted. The hospital Ulang’s only functioning health facility has since been forced to close its doors.
“We are outraged by the attack on our hospital and the threats made against our medical staff,” said Zakariya Mwatia, MSF’s Head of Mission in South Sudan.
“This facility has been a lifeline for the community during a time of escalating violence and an active cholera outbreak. Such attacks on hospitals and healthcare workers are completely unacceptable.”
Over 100 patients, many receiving trauma care, maternity services, and pediatric treatment fled the facility in fear.
While no MSF staff members were physically harmed, the psychological toll and disruption of care are significant.
This is not the first time MSF has faced violence in the region. In January 2025, armed men attacked two MSF marked boats returning to Ulang after delivering medical supplies to Nasir, prompting a halt to outreach activities.
Despite these challenges, MSF has maintained operations in Ulang since 2018, offering vital services including outpatient consultations, inpatient care, and emergency deliveries.
In 2024 alone, over 10,000 consultations and 650 births were recorded.
The latest attack underscores a dangerous trend of impunity and growing insecurity in South Sudan’s humanitarian space.
With the suspension of MSF services, the already fragile health system in Ulang faces collapse leaving thousands without medical support amid disease outbreaks and inter-communal violence.
As communities reel from the impact, urgent action is needed from authorities and peace stakeholders to protect healthcare workers and restore safe humanitarian access.
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