By Matik Kueth
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has sounded an alarm over severe restrictions on humanitarian access in opposition-held areas of Jonglei State, warning that nearly 400,000 people could be left without any healthcare if the situation continues.
According to the agency, since December 2025, South Sudan’s government has suspended all humanitarian flights to towns including Lankien, Pieri, and Akobo, making it nearly impossible for MSF to deliver critical medical supplies or personnel. Patients with life-threatening conditions are now in urgent jeopardy.
In a statement, Abdalla Hussein, MSF’s Desk Manager for South Sudan, said 23 critically ill patients from Lankien and Pieri require immediate medical referrals, with their lives hanging in the balance.
“Patients will die if the government continues to block humanitarian and medical access in Jonglei,” Hussein said.
He added, “Preventing people from accessing healthcare is a crude political maneuver. Ultimately, civilians pay the price. This must stop immediately.”
MSF has already reduced services in Lankien, Pieri, and Akobo to emergency and lifesaving care only. On January 29th, the organization evacuated its team from Pieri due to the imminent threat of armed conflict, discharging patients and taking only essential emergency kits.
“Conflict and displacement in Jonglei are creating new and urgent humanitarian needs on top of already limited healthcare services,” said Gul Badshah, MSF Operations Manager for South Sudan.
“All armed groups and political actors share the responsibility to protect civilians and medical personnel. Attacks, threats, and interference with medical activities put lives at risk and must stop,” he stated.
MSF warned that if medical facilities cannot be resupplied during the dry season while roads are still passable, the consequences will be catastrophic.
It further called for sustained and predictable humanitarian access to prevent further deterioration of health outcomes in Jonglei State.