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South Sudan: Distressing humanitarian situation as civilians are shot in Malakal

2 Jul 2015
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A shooting in a 'Protection of Civilians' (PoC) site in Malakal yesterday (1 July) saw a Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) facility receive nine wounded patients.

The wounded we received included women and elderly patients at our hospital in the PoC.

This adds to an already deteriorating humanitarian situation in Upper Nile state over the last few weeks, which has left civilians constantly exposed to episodes of violence. The number of wounded is increasing, as are displacements, rates of malnutrition and the risk of outbreaks.

Critical wounds

Among the patients received by MSF, one patient was badly wounded and died shortly after being brought to the MSF facility.

Three patients in critical condition were stabilised and referred for further treatment and five continue to receive treatment.

All of those being treated by us are internally displaced people, among the more than 30,000 seeking shelter from the South Sudan conflict in the Malakal UN compound where the PoC is located.

Since the onset of the conflict in December 2013, civilians, including patients and medical staff have often come under attack in South Sudan.

MSF condemns in the strongest terms possible the shooting at the PoC site and calls on all parties to the conflict to respect civilians, medical staff and patients.

MSF in South Sudan

MSF is one of the largest medical and humanitarian aid providers in South Sudan with more than 3,100 staff across the country, as well as projects in Ethiopia, Uganda and Sudan serving refugees from South Sudan.

At present, MSF operates projects in six of the 10 states of South Sudan, including in Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei where the conflict has taken a particularly heavy toll on the population.

Find out more about MSF's work in South Sudan