Latest news with #Ulang
Zawya
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Conflict, Displacement and disease drive food insecurity and malnutrition to alarming level in parts of South Sudan
The population in two counties in South Sudan are at risk of famine in the coming months, as conflict in Upper Nile state escalates, destroying homes, disrupting livelihoods, and impeding the delivery of humanitarian aid. The latest update by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) shows a deterioration in food and nutrition conditions in areas of South Sudan hit by fighting in the last few months. In Upper Nile state, people in 11 of the 13 counties are now facing emergency levels of hunger. Of extreme concern are Nasir and Ulang counties in Upper Nile, where people are deemed to be at-risk of famine, in the worst-case scenario. These areas have faced intense clashes and aerial bombardments that began in March, leading to large scale displacement. Some 32,000 people are in Catastrophic (IPC Phase 5) hunger conditions in Upper Nile state, more than three times the previous projection. Other parts of the country that have been spared from the conflict have seen improvements, with food security classification shifting from emergency (IPC Phase 4) to crisis (IPC Phase 3) – linked in some areas to better crop production and in others to sustained humanitarian interventions. This highlights the positive impact stability can have on food security. Nonetheless, 7.7 million people (57 percent of the population) continue to face acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3+), and there have been persistent pockets of catastrophic hunger (IPC Phase 5) in South Sudan in recent years, with conflict as a core driver. The last time famine was confirmed in South Sudan was in 2017. 'South Sudan cannot afford to sink into conflict at this point in time. It will plunge already vulnerable communities into severe food insecurity, leading to widespread hunger as farmers will be prevented from working on their land,' said Meshack Malo, Country Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in South Sudan. 'Improvement from IPC Phase 4 to IPC Phase 3, in ten counties, is clear testament of the dividends of peace' Humanitarian access in the conflict-affected areas remains severely constrained, leaving vulnerable communities without vital support during the lean season, amid ongoing conflict and displacement. The report also found that 66 percent (1.04 million people) of Upper Nile state's population are now facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3), Emergency (IPC Phase 4), or Catastrophic (IPC Phase 5) levels of hunger. 'Once again, we are seeing the devastating impact conflict has on food security in South Sudan,' said Mary-Ellen McGroarty, Country Director and Representative for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in South Sudan. 'Conflict doesn't just destroy homes and livelihoods, it tears communities apart, cuts off access to markets, and sends food prices spiraling upward. Long-term peace is essential, but right now, it is critical our teams are able to access and safely distribute food to families caught in conflict in Upper Nile, to bring them back from the brink and prevent famine." Malnutrition is also surging among children and mothers amidst a cholera outbreak with three additional counties in Upper Nile and Unity states reaching the most critical levels of malnutrition classification. The number of children at risk of acute malnutrition across South Sudan has risen to 2.3 million, from 2.1 million earlier in the year – an already unprecedented number. 'These latest projections place a further 200,000 young children at high risk of malnutrition. The ongoing challenges with access in some of the most affected areas, as well as health and nutrition site closures reduce the chances of early intervention and treatment. In addition, the cholera outbreak has added to an already difficult situation, putting young lives in a precarious fight for survival,' said Noala Skinner, UNICEF's country representative in South Sudan. 'Now more than ever we need continuity and scale-up of services for prevention and treatment of malnutrition' she added. As conflict, displacement, and disease continue to converge, humanitarian agencies are warning that the time to act is passing quickly for thousands of families in Upper Nile who are on the brink of catastrophe. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).
Arab News
10-06-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Medical charity shuts South Sudan hospital after attacks
NAIROBI: Doctors Without Borders, known as MSF, said it was forced to shut a hospital in South Sudan after violent looting, leaving a remote and conflict-plagued county without a major health facility. MSF said its hospital in Ulang, Upper Nile State, was 'completely destroyed' after armed individuals stormed the facility in April, threatened staff, and looted medicine worth $150,000. The attack left the facility 'in ruins and unable to function,' it said in a statement. South Sudan has descended into renewed conflict in recent months as a power-sharing agreement between rival generals, President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, has collapsed. 'The extensive losses from the looting have left us without the necessary resources to continue operations. We have no other option but to make the difficult decision to close the hospital,' MSF head of mission for South Sudan, Zakaria Mwatia, said. MSF said it has also withdrawn support from 13 primary health facilities in the county, adding that the move leaves the area 'without any secondary health care facility,' with the nearest one more than 200 km away. In May, another MSF hospital in Old Fangak in northern South Sudan was bombed, destroying its pharmacy and all its medical supplies. The incident came after the army threatened to attack the region in response to a number of boats and barges being 'hijacked' which it blamed on Machar's allies. South Sudan has been plagued by instability since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011.
Zawya
10-06-2025
- Health
- Zawya
South Sudan: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Permanently Closes Hospital and Ends Support to 13 Health Facilities in Ulang County Following Violent Looting
Due to safety and security concerns, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has decided to permanently close its hospital in Ulang, Upper Nile State, as well as withdraw its support to 13 primary health facilities in the county. MSF suspended all its medical services on 14 April 2025 after armed individuals forced their way into the hospital and its offices, threatened both staff and patients, and violently looted and destroyed property throughout the facility. The hospital infrastructure, in which MSF had invested millions of euros, was completely destroyed. In addition, intruders looted medicines worth €135,000—enough to run the hospital for months and care for thousands of patients. This has left the hospital in ruins and unable to function. 'They took everything: medical equipment, laptops, patients' beds and mattresses from the wards, and approximately nine months' worth of medical supplies, including two planeloads of surgical kits and drugs delivered just the week before. Whatever they could not carry, they destroyed,' says Zakaria Mwatia, MSF head of mission for South Sudan. 'The extensive losses from the looting have left us without the necessary resources to continue operations. We have 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 medical supplies, referrals, and technical support.' This was the second attack on MSF in the area in less than three months. In January, two marked MSF boats on their way to Ulang after delivering medical supplies to Nasir County Hospital were shot at by unknown gunmen, forcing everyone on board to jump into the water and swim to safety. Less than a month after the looting, another MSF hospital was bombed in Old Fangak, forcing MSF to suspend activities. Such attacks on healthcare facilities severely disrupt access to healthcare services by the communities, who depend on MSF for medical assistance. The closure of MSF facilities has left the area spanning more than 200 kilometres, from the Ethiopian border to Malakal, without any secondary healthcare facility. With the closure of the Ulang Hospital, pressure has increased significantly on the few remaining health structures, especially in Malakal, which has recorded an influx of patients in recent weeks. 'The security situation in the area remains volatile, with ongoing clashes in neighbouring regions. MSF prioritises the safety of its staff and patients and the integrity of our services, but the current environment makes it impossible to ensure either. We are deeply concerned by the growing trend of attacks on healthcare and the devastating impact this has on communities. We urgently call for the protection of patients, healthcare workers, and medical facilities at all times,' Mwatia adds. Since its launch in 2018, the MSF project in Ulang has provided vital healthcare services to over 150,000 people across Ulang County. This included running a secondary care hospital and supporting 13 primary healthcare facilities throughout the region. Over the past seven years, MSF has carried out more than 139,730 outpatient consultations, admitted 19,350 patients, treated 32,966 cases of malaria, and assisted 2,685 maternal deliveries, among other essential services. During this time, MSF also facilitated patient Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).
