A lot of people were killed. Not just men, everyone. Children, women, old people. They targeted children and mothers. I saw them dead in the forest. Their bodies are lying there. They killed them while they were running.
This is the voice of a South Sudanese woman who was running for her life. It's not an isolated event nor a single pattern of attack. South Sudan have been facing horrific level of violence. Abduction, forced recruitment. They've been forced to flee their homes.
This is unacceptable and cannot continue. What we witnessed last year in South Sudan is unprecedented. It's the worst level of violence we witnessed since the signatory of the peace agreement of 2018. In 2025, MSF treated on average 16 violence related patient per day every day.
That's a 50% increase on the year before violence related patient. That means victim of aerial attack of gunshot wounded and sexual violence. This cannot be the new normal for South Sudan. But for many people in South Sudan, running away from violence is only the first step.
Fighting is pushing them away from their home and sending them into areas where, where the local communities are already struggling to cope with their own needs. Displaced populations face hunger, disease outbreak and cannot find the services they need.
The response to such need is hindered by blockages and insecurities. We call on all parties to the conflict to immediately halt attack on civilians, on hospital, medical and humanitarian workers and to allow aid to reach the population wherever is needed.
We also call on humanitarian donor not to turn away at a time where aid is needed the most and needs are escalating. MSF will continue to provide medical aid and to bear witness before even more lives are lost.