Juba, South Sudan – 3 September 2025 – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams have successfully evacuated more than 1,000 residents from Old Fangak, Jonglei state, following the catastrophic breach of a critical dyke on the night of 30 August 2025. The resulting floods rapidly inundated the town, requiring immediate action to save lives.
At approximately 11 PM on 30 August, local dyke watchers issued urgent calls for community assistance to repair a leaking dyke. However, after just two hours of efforts, the dyke gave way, unleashing a torrent of water. “Everyone left immediately, running in all directions, most towards their homes to evacuate their families,” says Lony Diang Top Buom, a member of MSF staff residing in Old Fangak.
Upon receiving reports of the disaster, MSF immediately mobilised a team from Toch. “We don’t usually move by boat at night in these areas due to safety risks, but we had to prioritise saving lives that were in imminent danger,” says Atsuhiko Ochiai, MSF deputy head of mission for South Sudan. MSF teams coordinated with local authorities to secure larger commercial boats for evacuation.
Over the following days, MSF facilitated multiple trips, evacuating over 1,000 individuals by the end of Monday 1 September, including many vulnerable women and children, to Toch and Paguir, nearby towns less affected by flooding.
MSF staff who live in the community recount harrowing experiences as floodwaters surged through the homes of people in the town. Many were forced to take refuge on roofs and dykes, waiting for rescue. “I saw families struggling against the rising waters, their biggest fear being the safety of their children,” says Malik Nhial Puok Nyakun, a member of MSF staff and resident of Old Fangak. “Many of us left our beds, our belongings, our homes, just to carry the little ones to the dyke and wait for rescue boats. I left with nothing except my family. Everything else is now under water.”
For those remaining in Old Fangak, fear and uncertainty persist. Residents face rising water levels that threaten their safety. Many have resorted to precarious positions on rooftops and makeshift rafts, or perched atop the dykes as a refuge from the surging flood, hoping for rescue or that the waters will recede.
The flooding crisis in Old Fangak has reached alarming levels, described by locals as the worst they have ever seen. Environmental factors, combined with the region's ongoing instability, have worsened the situation, with floodwaters rising daily and significant portions of surrounding villages submerged. The community, already vulnerable due to years of conflict, is now grappling with the devastating impacts of this natural disaster. “Most of the flooding we’ve seen has been due to heavy rains, but this is the first time the dykes have broken so catastrophically,” Malik adds.
With the start of the rainy season, the situation is likely to get even worse over the coming months. In August 2024, MSF supported communities living in Old Fangak to reinforce dykes against severe flooding as floodwaters rose to unprecedented levels. With access remaining difficult due to insecurity, supporting people living in this area is challenging. In May 2025, MSF closed its hospital in Old Fangak after the facility was bombed in an airstrike. Today the hospital premises are completely flooded.
MSF is continuing to assess the situation on the ground to identify the biggest needs. “The main goal is to get people to safety first, then we can assess what kind of assistance they need,” adds Mr Ochiai.
About MSF
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been working in the region that today constitutes South Sudan since 1983. Guided by the principles of neutrality and impartiality, MSF offers healthcare solely based on need, regardless of political or religious affiliation.
Since the start of the year, MSF has witnessed a worrying increase in attacks targeting healthcare workers and facilities, including MSF’s hospital in Old Fangak. On 3 May, the MSF hospital in Old Fangak was bombed by two gunship helicopters, destroying the pharmacy and vital medical resources, rendering provision of medical care in the facility impossible. The helicopters also fired on the community, killing at least seven people and injuring 27. A total of four MSF staff were among the wounded. Since this incident, the hospital has remained closed.
Until its closure, the hospital had provided secondary healthcare services in Fangak County since 2014. Fangak county is a remote area where people had already struggled to access medical care due to flooding, insecurity, and displacement. The closure of the hospital then left a population of over 110,000 people in Fangak county without access to secondary healthcare services.
MSF is currently supporting public healthcare facilities in Toch Payam, an hour’s drive by boat from Old Fangak, responding to the healthcare needs of people in the area, including people from Old Fangak
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