Aid blockade leaves 20 critically ill patients trapped in Lankien amid armed clashes

BOR — At least 20 critically ill patients are stranded at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hospital in Lankien due to ongoing restrictions on humanitarian access by military actors in parts of South Sudan’s Jonglei State, raising fears of preventable deaths as conflict continues to disrupt medical services.

In a statement issued this week, MSF warned that access constraints imposed since late December have made it impossible to refer patients requiring specialised care, while also blocking the delivery of essential medical supplies to MSF-supported facilities in Lankien and Pieri.

“Lives are being put at risk every day because critically ill patients cannot be referred for the care they urgently need,” said Gul Badshah, MSF Operations Manager. “Patient referrals are not optional or administrative procedures; they are lifesaving interventions.”

MSF said the restrictions began on 30 December 2025, significantly constraining humanitarian movement into conflict-affected parts of Jonglei. As a result, at least 20 patients who require urgent referral outside Lankien remain trapped without access to higher-level medical treatment. MSF warned that every delay increases the likelihood of death or permanent disability.

The aid disruption comes amid persistent military clashes in Jonglei between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) and allied armed groups. In recent months, both government and rebel forces have been accused by humanitarian agencies and local communities of obstructing relief operations, including flight restrictions, road insecurity, and bureaucratic impediments to movement.

MSF reported that humanitarian organisations have been unable to secure “sustained and predictable access” to parts of Jonglei as of mid-January 2026. The absence of humanitarian presence, the organisation said, is accelerating the deterioration of health conditions and increasing preventable illness and death among vulnerable populations.

“Health facilities supported by MSF are already facing critical service disruptions,” Badshah said. “In Lankien and Pieri, MSF is now able to offer only lifesaving and emergency care.”

Before the access constraints, MSF facilities in Lankien and Pieri were treating approximately 1,000 and 700 patients per week respectively. Together, the two facilities serve an estimated catchment population of around 250,000 people. MSF warned that the sharp reduction in services leaves children, pregnant women, and patients with chronic or life-threatening conditions at heightened risk.

Insecurity has also triggered population displacement, with unknown numbers of residents fleeing to remote areas to escape airstrikes and fighting. While some have returned, MSF said many — particularly women and children — remain displaced and without access to basic healthcare.

The organisation confirmed it was forced to evacuate some staff from Lankien hospital on 31 December due to security concerns. The hospital now operates on a reduced emergency-only basis.

MSF has called for “unhindered humanitarian access,” including predictable and regular flights into Jonglei State, to enable medical referrals, delivery of supplies, and staff rotations. Without urgent action, the organisation warned, continued restrictions will deepen displacement, strain already limited health capacity, and push preventable deaths even higher in one of South Sudan’s most fragile regions.