Many thousands of people are fleeing Akobo, Jonglei state, South Sudan, as government forces prepare an offensive on the opposition-led town, following evacuation orders on March 6.
People affected by the government’s evacuation order on Akobo and surrounding areas include over 17,000 who were displaced just weeks ago in the ongoing conflict in the country. People must now either flee Akobo without protection or remain at risk of being killed, while losing access to health care and other essential services.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) calls on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and establish safe zones for those seeking shelter, to ensure secure access to humanitarian aid and essential medical care, and to protect health facilities so they can continue saving lives.
Evacuation disrupts critical vaccination campaigns
As a result of the evacuation, critical preparations for the upcoming malaria season, as well as basic health care and vaccination support for both local and displaced communities, have been brought to an abrupt halt.
“The consequences for people are devastating,” said Christophe Garnier, MSF head of mission in South Sudan. “Families are being forced to abandon their homes repeatedly, with no safe alternatives. For many who have already been displaced multiple times, there is simply nowhere left to go.”
South Sudanese government offensive forces mass evacuation and suspension of MSF activities in Akobo
Forced departure of MSF means thousands lose health care access
On March 7, the MSF team in Akobo was forced to evacuate, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without access to essential primary health care services. Some people have already begun fleeing to Ethiopia or to the nearby village of Meer.
Akobo hospital, where MSF supports the pediatric ward, was looted, as well as our pharmacy, resulting in the loss of all medicines and medical supplies. Our office was also ransacked by unknown assailants over the weekend.
This comes amid a disturbing pattern of attacks on health facilities in South Sudan. Since March 2025, there have been 12 attacks on MSF staff and supported hospitals, forcing the closure of three hospitals. In just the first two months of 2026, there have already been three attacks.
The evacuation occurs amid escalating violence in Jonglei state. On January 29, MSF teams left Pieri due to armed clashes. On February 3, government air strikes in Lankien killed civilians and destroyed the last functioning hospital in the town. Many MSF staff members fled along with members of the community, and 26 staff members are unaccounted for. Nearly 280,000 people were already displaced as of February, including 80,000 in Akobo County.
Isolated areas like Akobo are at high risk
Akobo is an isolated area with very limited health care facilities, and MSF is one of the few organizations that have been providing care to an estimated 112,000 people. MSF had regained access three weeks ago, following government-imposed restrictions that blocked flights and medical supplies. Our teams had just begun assessing newly displaced communities and launching a lifesaving malaria response, only to be forced out again.
“These repeated government-imposed evacuations leave people trapped, exposed to violence, and cut off from humanitarian aid,” said Garnier. “We are deeply concerned that Akobo hospital could be hit, depriving communities of the medical care they need to survive.”
Newly displaced communities, exhausted and traumatized by recent clashes, are living in makeshift shelters without safe drinking water, adequate food, or proper protection. Cut off from essential care, they are left exposed to disease, hunger, and the constant threat of extreme violence while living in undignified conditions.
Repeated evacuations, attacks on health workers and medical facilities, and government-imposed restrictions are limiting MSF’s ability to respond at a time when people in South Sudan urgently need medical and humanitarian aid.
