MSF compound looted amid fighting in South Sudan

By

Peter Louis

A Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) medical compound has been looted amid fighting that broke out on Tuesday afternoon in Pibor, South Sudan, which has left approximately 1000 people seeking shelter at the UNMISS base.

Fighting broke out in Pibor in the early afternoon on the 23rd and continued throughout the day. In the afternoon, the MSF team was forced to seek safety in the medical organisation’s compound, but as heavy gunfire approached the facility, the team was forced to move to the UNMISS compound.

MSF staff brought medical equipment and supplies with them and they have been supporting the provision of medical treatment to the wounded. The staff continued to support treatment for 35 patients, but there is still a lack of surgical capacity to provide the level of treatment urgently required.

Fighting is ongoing in the area and MSF has witnessed a number of homes that have been destroyed in the violence. MSF has not been able to assess the extent of the damage to its compound.

“There are critical emergency medical needs right now in Pibor, and really limited capacity to respond and save lives,” says Corinne Benazech, MSF Head of Mission.

“We need to assess the damage and looting of the MSF health centre, but if we cannot restart activities this could make a bad situation catastrophic, since MSF provides the only healthcare in the area.”

“We reiterate the call that all armed actors must respect international humanitarian law, which protects civilians, medical facilities and the provision of humanitarian assistance.”

Peter Louis

Peter Louis works as a freelance Videographer and Journalist in the Republic of South Sudan. He previously worked for Ebony TV, South Sudan Radio and South Sudan TV, Wau.