26 MSF staff missing after recent violence in Lankien & Pieri

2026-03-02 - 09:28

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) says 26 of its 291 staff members in Lankien and Pieri remain unaccounted for following recent clashes in Jonglei State. Staff had evacuated the hospital compound amid warnings of a possible attack. In a press release to Eye Radio newsroom, MSF said many fled alongside their families and are now sheltering in remote areas with limited access to food, water, or basic services. However, poor communication networks have made it difficult to contact those in hiding. The medical charity said the violence has forced MSF to suspend all medical activities in the two towns, leaving roughly 250,000 people without access to healthcare. “This violence has taken an unbearable toll not only on healthcare services but on the very people who kept them running. Medical workers must never be targets,” says Yashovardhan, Head of Mission in South Sudan. “We are deeply concerned about what has happened to our colleagues and the communities we serve. Where security conditions allow, we have initiated emergency support in areas where people have sought refuge. We are also taking steps to support our staff during this period.” MSF says it is making every effort to locate missing staff and support affected teams and families, while calling on all parties to protect medical facilities, patients, and healthcare workers.