Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has permanently closed its hospital in Ulang, Upper Nile State, and withdrawn support from 13 primary health facilities across the county, citing escalating safety and security concerns.
On April 14, 2025, MSF suspended all operations after armed individuals stormed the hospital and offices, threatening staff and patients, looting, and destroying vital infrastructure.
Zakaria Mwatia, MSF’s Head of Mission in South Sudan, stated that the organization had invested millions of euros in the hospital infrastructure, all of which was destroyed in the attack. He added that the looters took medicines worth €135,000—supplies that could have sustained the facility for several months and served thousands of patients.
“They took everything: medical equipment, laptops, patient beds and mattresses, and approximately nine months’ worth of medical supplies, including two full planeloads of surgical kits and drugs delivered just a week earlier. Whatever they couldn’t carry, they destroyed,” said Mwatia.
“The extensive losses from the looting have left us without the necessary resources to continue operations,” he added.
Mwatia stressed that without the central hospital, the 13 dependent facilities could not be sustained.
“We had no other option but to make the difficult decision to close the hospital and our support to 13 primary healthcare facilities, as they all relied on the hospital for supplies, referrals, and technical support.”
This was reportedly the second attack on MSF operations in the area within three months. In January, two MSF boats marked with medical insignia were shot at while en route to Ulang, forcing passengers to jump into the river for safety. Just weeks after the looting, another MSF facility in Old Fangak was bombed.
“These repeated attacks severely disrupt access to healthcare services for communities who depend on MSF for medical assistance,” Mwatia lamented.
With the closures, an area spanning more than 200 kilometers—from the Ethiopian border to Malakal—is left without secondary healthcare.
Despite the closures, MSF remains committed to supporting displaced and vulnerable people in Ulang and Nasir counties.
A mobile emergency team is currently assessing needs and preparing to deliver short-term services along the Sobat Corridor where security permits. MSF continues to operate in other parts of Upper Nile State, including Malakal and Renk counties.
