Old Fangak, a quiet and flood-prone community in South Sudan’s Jonglei State, woke up to horror on Friday morning as airstrikes ripped through the town claiming the lives of four people, including a nine-month-old baby, and injuring at least 25 others.
The attacks, reported to have been carried out by military aircraft, struck near the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hospital the only healthcare facility serving over 40,000 residents.
According to local officials and eyewitnesses, the first bomb hit close to the hospital compound, where many civilians were sheltering. The injured include children, women, and the elderly, with survivors now seeking treatment in makeshift shelters as the hospital's services remain crippled.
"This is not just a tragedy; it’s an atrocity," a local official told the media "Targeting civilians, especially a place that offers medical care, is unacceptable.”
The MSF hospital has long been a lifeline in the region, where decades of conflict, poor infrastructure, and seasonal floods have left communities isolated and vulnerable. Its destruction is a blow not only to Old Fangak but to the surrounding counties that rely on its services.
The airstrike comes amid rising tensions between government forces and opposition groups in Upper Nile and Jonglei states. Local leaders fear that such attacks will only fuel further instability and suffering, especially at a time when the country should be focusing on peace and national healing ahead of elections.
Civilians have started fleeing the area, with many hiding in swamps or taking boats to seek refuge in nearby villages."We don’t know where to go anymore," one mother said, holding her injured toddler. "Even hospitals are no longer safe."
As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the government has not issued an official statement. Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies are calling for an independent investigation and urging all parties to respect international humanitarian law.
Final Thoughts:
The airstrikes in Old Fangak are a painful reminder of the human cost of conflict. As South Sudan continues its journey toward peace and democracy, it must protect its people especially the most vulnerable. A hospital should be a haven, not a target.
We stand with the people of Old Fangak.
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