Protest erupts in Bentiu PoC as MSF shifts Operations

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By Matik Kueth

On Monday, hundreds of IDPs in Bentiu PoC, Unity State, protested MSF’s plan to move medical services to Bentiu town’s main hospital. The demonstrators urged MSF to remain at the PoC, fearing limited access to critical healthcare. Maker Peter, Secretary-General of the PoC High Committee, said the move deeply concerns IDPs, as MSF is their sole provider of secondary healthcare.

“The community of Bentiu IDP has actually got information, MSF which is the only hospital they have here is transiting to Bentiu State Hospital, and it has become into their minds that it becomes difficult for them if MSF transits, the reason being, one of the reasons is that MSF is the only health partner that does secondary health care services here for the people of Bentiu IDP camp. The distance from Bentiu IDP camp to Bentiu State Hospital is about 7.5 kilometers, which is about three hours walk on foot and 20 minutes by vehicle. But the main means of transport for Bentiu IDP people here is only a wheelbarrow. It will be very difficult for them if MSF leaves them,” Peter said.

Peter emphasized the community’s need for assistance, stating that their peaceful protest serves to draw global attention to their plight.

“The population in Bentiu IDP camp is about 145,000 IDPs plus 20,000 returnees, and it becomes difficult for them if MSF leaves them; that’s why they have resorted to peaceful demonstration for the world to see them, the world to see them that these people need the service of MSF. If MSF leaves them, there are a lot of cases emergency cases that happen at night, it will be very difficult for them to carry patients from a distance of 7.5 kilometers on walk at night therefore they have decided, the community has decided to demonstrate a peaceful demonstration, show up a peaceful demonstration for the world to see them and for MSF not to go,” he explained.

Nhial Charles, one of the protestors, pointed out that if MSF relocates to Bentiu town, life in the PoC will deteriorate, stressing that IDPs will suffer immensely.

“Well, this peaceful demonstration is something that was under plan because the IDPs that is been almost 17,000. We have been gathering here since morning for the sake of seeing the MSF trying to transit as you’re trying to hand over the facility that is almost responsible to the Bentiu Hospital. So, we say as a citizen, the distance that we have, no one will have accessibility to Bentiu. You know, most of the critical health conditions are almost happening in the IDPs camp,” Charles lamented.

He appealed to MSF not to abandon operations in the PoC but to continue providing services to IDPs.

“It would be good if MSF can also continue maintaining to deliver a service to the community. It is not bad, Bentiu is not bad, but as for now, you know, we have so many calculations. For example, if you try to see what is happening in South Sudan, we have not yet guaranteed the peaceful means for us to go out. We are not saying that, no, we cannot go out, but we say, since, you know, the country that has been held by the two armies, there’s no guarantee for this security context. So, we are saying, MSF should remain delivering services,” he urged.

However, when approached by King Media, James Mutharia, MSF’s project coordinator for the Bentiu hospital transition, clarified that the health agency is not leaving Bentiu but rather relocating its service location.

He stressed that MSF’s aim is to strengthen the local healthcare system and ensure long-term sustainability.

“In light of recent demonstrations and concerns from the community in Bentiu regarding the transition of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) medical services from Bentiu camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) to Bentiu State Hospital (BSH), we would like to clarify that while the organization is shifting service location, we are not leaving Bentiu, rather our aim is to strengthen the local healthcare system and ensure long term sustainability,” Mutharia explained.

He added, “This new collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) is part of MSF’s plan to reposition all primary and secondary healthcare services from the Bentiu IDP camp facility to BSH by the end of 2025. This repositioning of services is intended to not only maintain but also enhance delivery of healthcare services in Unity State, with MSF and the MoH collaborating to provide continued medical treatment and support to all the communities. We understand that change can create uncertainty, and we appreciate the feedback we have received from the various stakeholders we have met with during the planning phase and now, during the transition.”

Bentiu POC, the biggest IDP camp in South Sudan, houses more than 150,000 IDPs who face numerous challenges, such as limited access to clean drinking water, food aid shortages after the World Food Programme (WFP) reduced food rations, and many others.

MSF has been a vital lifeline since the crisis began, delivering necessary medical care, particularly to people suffering from serious illnesses in Bentiu PoC. The IDPs are concerned that MSF’s withdrawal may leave a gap in medical treatment, putting their lives in peril.