JUBA, South Sudan — A bombing in a remote town in South Sudan’s northern Fangak County killed at least seven people and injured more than 20 others, according to the international medical aid group Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), which condemned the destruction of the county’s only hospital and pharmacy.
The attack occurred earlier this week, but MSF released the casualty figures in a statement on Saturday, calling the incident “a devastating blow” to already vulnerable civilians in the conflict-ridden Upper Nile region.
Local officials said the strike, whose origin remains unconfirmed, hit the center of a small but heavily populated area, where displaced families had taken shelter.
The only operational health facility in the region was leveled, leaving survivors without access to emergency care.
“We are deeply alarmed by this attack, which not only claimed lives but targeted the last remaining source of medical treatment in the entire county,” said Federica Franco, MSF’s head of mission in South Sudan.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, though the region has seen renewed clashes in recent months between government forces and opposition militias.
The government in Juba has not issued a formal response, and efforts to independently verify details remain difficult due to access restrictions and security concerns.
The attack has raised fears of further deterioration in humanitarian conditions. Nearly two million people are currently displaced within South Sudan, with many relying on sporadic aid deliveries and field clinics to meet basic needs.
“This tragedy underscores the urgent need for all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law,” said an MSF field coordinator, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns.
“Targeting civilian infrastructure, especially hospitals, is a violation that should not go unpunished.”
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said it is investigating the incident and urged restraint, warning that continued violence could derail fragile peace efforts.
South Sudan remains one of the world’s most underreported and underfunded humanitarian crises, with international organizations routinely calling for more robust protection for aid workers and civilians alike.
