By Deborah Akur Chol, South Sudan
The United Nations has strongly condemned an airstrike that struck the Old Fangak Hospital in Jonglei State, South Sudan, on Sunday.
This egregious attack underscores the alarming trend of violence against healthcare facilities in conflict zones.
In a statement, the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan called for all parties involved in the conflict to uphold their obligation to protect civilians and humanitarian infrastructure.
This latest airstrike has resulted in the tragic deaths of at least seven civilians and left over 20 others wounded. Moreover, it has put critical medical care at risk for more than 100,000 people in the region.
The hospital, operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has become yet another victim of the ongoing hostilities.
In the aftermath of the attack, many residents fled the town in fear, while aid teams from both local and international organizations rushed to evacuate their staff.
Some patients have been relocated to other facilities within Fangak County, where the U.N. is facilitating the airlift of essential medical supplies to mitigate immediate shortages.
This airstrike follows a series of assaults on healthcare facilities in Ulang and Nasir, both located in neighboring Upper Nile State, thereby wiping out the only healthcare options for vulnerable populations in those areas.
“Communities in these regions are already grappling with the challenges of flooding, food insecurity, and disease outbreaks. The destruction of vital health infrastructure, coupled with ongoing conflict, places the lives of innocent South Sudanese at dire risk,” stated Marie-Helene Verney, the acting U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator.
The U.N. has cautioned that the disruption of services will have a particularly devastating impact on children, while women and girls will be deprived of essential health services, including maternal and reproductive health care. In addition, programs aimed at responding to rape and sexual violence have been suspended.
Verney emphasized the pressing need for a cessation of hostilities, which have displaced over 130,000 individuals from Nasir, Ulang, and Fangak counties in the past two months, leaving many without access to livelihoods or basic necessities. She reiterated the critical necessity of protecting both civilians and humanitarian personnel.
Additionally, she called for unhindered access for humanitarian efforts to deliver aid to those in desperate need.
From January to April 2025, the U.N. reported at least eight attacks on health facilities in Upper Nile, including distressing airstrikes on Jikmir and Kuich clinics, alongside incidents of looting and destruction of medical storage facilities. The consequences of such violence are devastating, threatening the health and well-being of entire communities in South Sudan.
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