South Sudan's hidden crisis

How violence against civilians is devastating communities and preventing access to life-saving healthcare in Jonglei.

Today, Jongeli’s population is faced with repeated violence and displacement, as well as significant and ongoing health needs that tantamount to an emergency.

South Sudan has some of the world’s worst health and development indicators, with a life expectancy of 42 years and three quarters of the population unable to access healthcare. There are very few health structures and qualified medical staff on the ground as well as significant geographical barriers to accessing even the most basic healthcare.

MSF is one of the main providers of healthcare in Jonglei. Healthcare has become a target for violence. 2011-2012 has seen the repeated looting, damage and destruction of medical facilities in Jonglei, including Pieri in August 2011, Pibor and Lekwongole in December 2011, Lekwongole in August 2012 and Gumuruk in Septmeber 2012. This disturbing trend of targeting medical facilities not only raises concerns about the extreme nature of the violence in the region, but also about the wider impact on access to healthcare for people already vulnerable as a result of violence.