Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has pulled out essential personnel from its medical facility in Lankien, Nyirol County, Jonglei State, due to deteriorating security conditions.

The facility continues to operate and deliver vital healthcare services. On December 29, airstrikes carried out by the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) struck locations close to the MSF clinic, the local market, and the airstrip critical for patient referrals and supply deliveries.

In a statement released on Wednesday, MSF reported that its Lankien facility treated twelve people injured in the attacks, among them children and elderly individuals. One of those patients subsequently died. The majority of injuries involved fractures and cuts.“

MSF once again urges all parties to respect the protection of medical facilities, healthcare workers, and patients under international humanitarian law,” stated Ibrahim Muhammad, MSF Head of Mission in South Sudan. “We further call for the safety of civilians and for unimpeded, timely referrals of seriously ill patients from Lankien.”

Throughout 2025, MSF has recorded at least eight incidents targeting health facilities and personnel across South Sudan, resulting in the closure of two hospitals and the suspension of primary healthcare services in Jonglei, Upper Nile, and Central Equatoria states.

MSF has been active in South Sudan since 1983. The organization currently operates in six states and two administrative areas, offering outpatient and inpatient treatment as well as medical evacuations.

In 2024, its teams carried out more than 800,000 outpatient consultations and admitted over 84,800 patients for inpatient care.