Thousands Flee Violence in South Sudan, Medical Sites Attacked
![Sudanese from the war-torn Blue Nile state collect muddy water, in order to avoid the 12-hour queue at a water pump](https://d.medicaldaily.com/en/full/222587/sudanese-war-torn-blue-nile-state-collect-muddy-water-order-avoid-12-hour-queue-water-pump.jpg?w=670&f=ea9a99a5a5b39fbb93d183459032f181)
Thousands of people fled more intertribal violence in South Sudan last week, leaving many without access to humanitarian assistance, including medical care, a non-profit group said Tuesday.
Doctors Without Borders/Medicins Sans Frontieres said the groups consisted of families who moved to the country side.
They are “now hiding in the bush, frightened for their lives,” said Parthesarathy Rajendran, MSF head of mission in South Sudan.
The organization said two of the three of its medical facilities in Pibor County were looted and damaged. The nearest alternative healthcare facility is more than 62 miles away.
The facilities were targeted in attacks in Jonglei, and medical care was temporarily suspended in Pibor County.
“They fled in haste and have no food or water, some of them doubtless with wounds. Now they are hiding on their own, beyond the reach of humanitarian assistance,” Rajendran added.
The organization says it has provided neutral medical aid in the region for three decades, treating anyone irrespective of their ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation.
“MSF condemned the targeting of neutral and impartial medical facilities,” the organization said.
MSF said that its facilities are ready to return and recommence in providing emergency care.
Rajendran said parts of South Sudan face several crisis situations. Medical teams with the group are helping refugees fleeing from a conflict in neighboring Sudan.
He said the “capacity for emergency humanitarian response remains an absolute priority.”