At Least Seven Dead in South Sudan Hospital Bombing, Says Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Juba, South Sudan – A tragic airstrike has claimed the lives of at least seven people after a hospital in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State was bombed, according to international humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The attack has sparked global outrage and raised urgent concerns about the safety of civilians and healthcare infrastructure amid ongoing violence in the region.
The hospital, located in the town of Kodok, was operated by MSF and served as a crucial healthcare facility for thousands in the conflict-affected region. On the day of the attack, the facility was reportedly treating patients and hosting medical staff when it was struck. MSF confirmed that the bombing not only killed seven individuals but also caused extensive damage to the hospital infrastructure, rendering it non-operational.
“This is a deliberate assault on a medical facility and a gross violation of international humanitarian law,” said an MSF spokesperson. “Hospitals are not battlefields. Medical staff, patients, and the sick and wounded must be protected, not targeted.”
MSF has called for an immediate, independent investigation into the incident and is urging all parties involved in the South Sudan conflict to respect international law, which prohibits attacks on healthcare institutions. The organization also emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian access and protection of civilians, especially in remote and volatile areas like Upper Nile State.
The identity of those responsible for the bombing remains unclear. South Sudanese authorities have yet to release a formal statement, and no group has claimed responsibility. However, tensions have been rising in Upper Nile and surrounding regions due to persistent intercommunal violence and clashes between armed factions, which have displaced thousands in recent months.
International observers, including the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies, have condemned the attack. Many are now calling for greater accountability and immediate steps to ensure that healthcare workers and civilians are not caught in the crossfire of ongoing hostilities.
This devastating incident underscores the fragile state of South Sudan’s healthcare system and the enormous challenges faced by aid organizations operating in conflict zones. MSF has been providing essential medical services in South Sudan for over 40 years and is one of the few organizations maintaining a presence in remote and dangerous regions.
As of now, MSF is working to relocate affected personnel and assess the full impact of the bombing on healthcare delivery in the area. The organization has not yet confirmed when or if services at the Kodok facility will resume.
Source : Swifteradio.com
