Juba, South Sudan – 16th November – Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is deeply alarmed by the violence against civilians that erupted in Adong Payam, Upper Nile State, following an attack reportedly carried out by armed groups against the local community on 14th November 2025.
MSF in coordination with the Ministry of Health (MoH) responded to the critical influx of trauma patients in Malakal Teaching Hospital. The facility has already received 50 wounded including five critically injured patients requiring immediate surgical intervention, and three deaths have been recorded at the facility.
"As many are reported missing, we are expecting to receive even more wounded," says MSF head of mission in South Sudan, Zakaria Mwatia. “We call for the protection of civilians and for free, unhindered access to all wounded to ensure they receive the medical care they urgently need,” he added.
The ongoing escalation of violence in Upper Nile State, where insecurity is already prevalent, is further deteriorating the humanitarian and medical situation. Humanitarian partners report over 60 deaths and 66 injuries, including 30 major injuries requiring urgent surgical and specialized care. This rapidly worsening crisis is placing immense strain on already fragile health and humanitarian systems.
The escalating insecurity has already had immediate consequences for aid delivery, and persistent security threats risk cutting off even more vulnerable communities from essential healthcare services.
“MSF remains committed to providing impartial medical care to all those affected by this violence, based solely on need. But our ability to do so must not be continually jeopardized by violence and disregard for humanitarian principles. We urge armed groups to spare civilians and to allow unhindered access to health care,” says Mwatia.
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