Since 10 February, armed clashes have erupted in and around Agok, a town in the south of the Abyei Special Administrative Area (SAA), which is a contested zone between Sudan and South Sudan, under its own administration.
MSF OCG has been working in Agok since 2006 and established a hospital there in 2008, providing secondary care services. Following the initial violence that erupted on the 10 February 2022, MSF temporarily suspended services at the hospital in Agok. From 17 February, MSF OCG had recommenced some medical services at the hospital, however, on 5 March the situation in Agok deteriorated. Further violence meant that none of the community felt safe to remain or return to Agok and as a result, patients were not visiting the hospital. Therefore, the MSF team have temporarily relocated back to Abyei to respond to urgent medical needs there.
As a result of the violence, tens of thousands of people have fled Agok and the surrounding areas, moving either north, or south into Twic County in South Sudan’s Warrap State. Whilst some of the displaced people have been absorbed into communities where they have family and other interpersonal networks, many have settled in the open, where they lack basic shelter, sanitation, food and clean water. Around 32,000 displaced people, mostly women and children, have settled in Turalei, Wunrok, Mayem Abun and Nyindeng Ayuel in Twic County.
MSF is providing food, some essential non-food items, has supported to local health facilities and started mobile clinics. While some NGOs were already present in a few locations with longer term activities, their activities have not changed or been scaled up in response to the current emergency situation. The situation is dire and despite the massive and urgent needs of the displaced population, no other organizations are actively responding to the emergency.