Airstrike forces evacuation of patients from MSF hospital in Lankien

BOR – The Commissioner of Nyirol County has strongly condemned an alleged airstrike that struck Lankien town on Tuesday night, forcing the evacuation of patients from a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hospital and disrupting critical health services for thousands of civilians.

In an official statement issued on February 4, Commissioner Peter Gatkuoth Koang Dhuor said the aerial bombardment occurred at around 8:30 p.m. on February 3, hitting a civilian area and directly affecting the MSF Secondary Hospital compound in Lankien, the county headquarters of Nyirol in Jonglei State.

According to the commissioner, the attack damaged a central storage facility used for food and essential medical supplies within the hospital premises. He said eyewitness accounts and initial assessments suggest the weapon used resembled cluster munitions, similar to those allegedly dropped on Lankien on December 30, 2025 an earlier incident that reportedly killed 14 civilians and injured 17 others.

“The scale of destruction from the recent strike appears wider and deeper, indicating the possible use of a more destructive munition,” the statement read.

As a result of the airstrike, all patients, including those reliant on oxygen and intravenous treatment, were evacuated from the hospital amid fears of further bombardment. Commissioner Gatkuoth said medical staff were also forced to flee with their families, leaving critically ill patients without access to life-saving care.

“Rendering a medical facility non-functional constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law,” he added.

The commissioner emphasised that Lankien is a non-militarised town with no armed forces presence and hosts a civilian population estimated in the hundreds of thousands.

He warned that repeated attacks on the area raise concerns of deliberate targeting of civilians.

In the statement, the county administration rejected what it described as the use of prohibited weapons and the targeting of civilian populations and humanitarian infrastructure, actions it said amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law.

The commissioner called on the United Nations, African Union, IGAD, the UN Human Rights Council, the International Criminal Court, international human rights organisations, and humanitarian partners to urgently investigate the incident and ensure accountability.

County authorities said they are working with health partners to assess the full extent of damage to medical equipment and facilities, while community volunteers assist in documenting losses.

“The people of Nyirol County demand justice, protection, and respect for their right to life and dignity,” the statement concluded.

The South Sudanese government has not yet publicly responded to the allegations at the time of publication.