Attacks on hospitals, drug shortage leave patients without medication, MSF warns

JUBA – South Sudan’s already fragile health system is collapsing under escalating violence, severe drug shortages and declining international support, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warned on Tuesday in a new report.

The report, Left Behind in Crisis: Escalating Violence and Healthcare Collapse in South Sudan, documents rising attacks on hospitals, widespread stockouts of essential medicine, and deadly barriers to care just as conflict intensifies across the country.

MSF says violence between government forces, opposition groups and other armed actors surged in 2025—marking the worst spike since the 2018 peace deal—and has displaced more than 320,000 people since January. At least 2,000 people have been killed this year, according to UN figures quoted in the report.

“Our teams witness huge gaps in health services everywhere we work,” said Dr Sigrid Lamberg, MSF’s Head of Field Operations in South Sudan. “People are dying from preventable and treatable diseases. Health facilities need support on the ground, not on paper.”

Hospitals attacked and forced to shut down

MSF documented eight attacks on its facilities and staff this year alone in Jonglei, Upper Nile and Central Equatoria—forcing the closure of hospitals in Old Fangak and Ulang.

On 3 December, an MSF-run facility in Pieri, Jonglei State, was hit by an airstrike. The organisation reported additional airstrikes in Lankien on the same day.

MSF says such attacks constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.

“No medication” as malaria drugs run out nationwide

The report describes widespread shortages of essential drugs, including malaria treatment. Malaria remains the leading cause of death in South Sudan, especially among children and pregnant women.

Caregivers interviewed by MSF say they often walk long distances seeking treatment, only to be turned away.

“There is a small health facility, but it does not have all the medication – sometimes they finish supplies very fast,” one mother in Toch told MSF teams.

Between January and September this year, MSF treated nearly 6,700 patients with severe malaria requiring hospitalisation.

International funding shrinking despite growing needs

The Health Sector Transformation Project, launched in July 2024 to support more than 1,100 health facilities nationwide, currently funds just 816 due to funding shortages – and many of those remain under-resourced.

Meanwhile, the national health budget stands at only 1.3% of government spending—far below South Sudan’s Abuja commitment to allocate 15%.

MSF called on South Sudan authorities and international donors to immediately step up support by ensuring the timely provision of medicines, sustained funding for health workers, improved humanitarian access, and protection of medical facilities from attack

“The situation in the country is catastrophic,” Lamberg said. “The world can’t look away—especially not now.”