Just In: A Doctors Without Borders (MSF) hospital in Lankien, Jonglei state, South Sudan, was hit by an airstrike from government forces during the night of Tuesday, February 3, 2026, severely disrupting vital medical care for approximately 250,000 people. This targeted assault injured one MSF staff member and destroyed critical medical supplies, escalating an already dire humanitarian crisis in the region. The incident raises urgent concerns about the protection of civilians and healthcare facilities amidst ongoing conflict.
The airstrike in Lankien specifically targeted the MSF facility, resulting in the destruction of its main warehouse, which housed essential medical supplies. In a separate but related incident on the afternoon of the same day, another MSF health facility in Pieri, also in Jonglei state, was looted by unknown assailants, rendering it unusable for the local community. MSF operations manager, Gul Badshah, confirmed that the organization had previously shared the GPS coordinates of all its facilities with the South Sudanese government and other parties to the conflict. Badshah emphasized that “the government of South Sudan armed forces are the only armed party with the capacity to perform aerial attacks in the country.”
This attack marks the tenth incident targeting an MSF medical facility in South Sudan within the last 12 months, according to the organization. The region of Jonglei has been at the epicenter of renewed fighting between government troops and opposition forces, leading to a significant displacement of the population. Since December, an estimated 280,000 people have fled their homes due to escalating violence and aerial bombardments in the area.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest sovereign state, has been plagued by civil war, poverty, and corruption since its formation in 2011. The ongoing conflict has severely hampered humanitarian efforts, with restrictions on access to opposition-held areas in Jonglei state imposed by the government since December. These restrictions have limited MSF’s ability to deliver critical assistance, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including children and pregnant women.
Currently, MSF colleagues from both Lankien and Pieri have been forced to flee with the community, and their whereabouts remain unknown as communication efforts are underway to locate them. The evacuation of the Lankien hospital, with patients discharged hours before the airstrike, was a preventative measure taken after MSF received intelligence about a potential attack. The attacks have left a quarter-million people without essential healthcare services, as MSF was the sole provider in these locations.
The South Sudanese government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the airstrike. When contacted by Reuters, Jonglei state’s information minister declined to comment, redirecting inquiries to the army. An army spokesperson could not be reached for comment. Abdalla Hussein, MSF program manager for South Sudan, issued a stark warning: “Patients will die if the government continues to block humanitarian and medical access in Jonglei.” He further stated, “Imposing restrictions on humanitarian aid and preventing people from accessing health care is a crude political maneuver. Ultimately, civilians pay the price.” The United Nations has previously stated that targeting medical facilities may constitute a war crime.
The full extent of the damage to the humanitarian infrastructure in Jonglei state is still being assessed. Ongoing investigations will seek to determine accountability for the attacks on these protected medical facilities. Without immediate and unhindered humanitarian access, the health crisis for hundreds of thousands of displaced and vulnerable individuals is expected to worsen significantly. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available on this developing story. This incident highlights the urgent need for all parties to the conflict to adhere strictly to international humanitarian law.
Meta description: Breaking: MSF hospital in South Sudan hit by government airstrike on Feb 3, injuring staff and destroying supplies. Humanitarian crisis deepens. Urgent calls for protection. Developing story.
