40 YEARS OF CARE
SOUTH SUDAN

This timeline is to take you on a journey through MSF's work over the last 40 years at a macro level. This also highlights the humanitarian crises that the people of South Sudan have faced over the past four decades.

1983: MSF begins working in Southern Sudan, providing medical assistance both to refugees fleeing the Uganda civil war and to the host community in Yei. By the early 1980s, there were 93,000 Ugandan refugees in southern Sudan.

1986: MSF begins support for local hospital in Maridi and Tambura.

1987: MSF launches medical and nutritional programmes in Wau.

1988: MSF launches medical activities in Aweil, providing support to the local hospital.

1989: MSF opens a hospital in the town of Aweil in the Greater Bahr El Ghazal region, which provides medical care to victims of the civil war.

1992: MSF begins activities in Yambio with support to a local hospital.

1993: MSF launches a program to combat Kala-Azar, a parasitic disease transmitted by sandflies, in the Upper Nile region.

1994: MSF provides assistance to refugees fleeing the Rwandan genocide in Greater Yei

1996: MSF opens projects in Pochalla in Greater Upper Nile and Tonj in Greater Bahr El Ghazal.

1998: MSF responds to famine in Greater Bahr El Ghazal, opening malnutrition treatment centres throughout the region.

2000: MSF launches emergency activities in Bentiu.

2003: MSF opens a hospital in the town of Leer, which provides medical care to victims of the civil war and supports a yellow fever vaccination campaign in Budi County.

2005: A peace agreement is signed between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army. MSF continues to provide medical assistance during the transition period and establishes medical operations in Mayon.

2006: MSF responds to an outbreak of cholera in Juba.

2007: MSF provides treatment for cholera and responds to a measles outbreak with a vaccination campaign in Juba in addition to running primary and secondary healthcare services in Nasir, Pieri, Lankien, Malakal and Abyei.

2008: MSF responds to an outbreak of meningitis in the town of Malakal in Upper Nile state and starts a mother and child health project in Aweil. MSF responds to an outbreak of cholera in Juba and opens a hospital in Agok, Abyei.

2009: MSF opens a hospital in the town of Lankien in Jonglei state, which provides medical care to victims of the conflict in the region and begins treating patients living with HIV in Leer and Nasir.

In Yambio hospital, MSF’s emergency team responds to the crisis caused by violence, with non-food items distributions, mobile and fixed clinics, secondary health care and mental health services.

2010: MSF responds to Kala-Azar outbreaks in Malakal and surrounding locations. In response to a nutritional crisis, MSF provides nutritional services during the hunger gap.

2011: Following the independence of South Sudan, MSF continues to provide medical assistance. MSF begins activities for refugees and the host community in Yida and responds to emergencies in Pibor and Abyei.

2012: MSF expands its medical and nutritional activities carrying out primary health care consultations for the population of the refugee camp in Yida.

2013: MSF performs nearly 1 million outpatient consultations and admits 50,000 patients to its hospitals throughout the year.

2014: MSF teams carry out South Sudan’s first mass cholera vaccination campaign, immunising 200,000 displaced people and host families in Malakal, Minkamen and Juba. MSF launches emergency interventions in Malakal and Melut, Upper Nile State, that later will become regular projects.

2015: MSF opens a hospital in the town of Bentiu in Unity state, which provides medical care to victims of the conflict in the region.

2016: MSF responds to an outbreak of cholera and opens a surgical facility and mobile clinics in Juba following clashes in July. Over 900,000 consultations are conducted across the country.

2017: MSF responds to an outbreak of meningitis in the town of Tonj in Warrap state and opens a new project in Akobo and vaccinates over 200,000 against cholera in Juba.

2018: MSF responds to an increase in malaria cases by opening six malaria treatment sites in Bentiu

2019: MSF responds to an outbreak of measles in the town of Aweil. MSF launches a new project in Ulang, Upper Nile State, to provide medical and humanitarian assistance to the local and displaced population.

2020: MSF responds to an outbreak of COVID-19 in South Sudan, including setting up isolation and treatment centres in various locations. MSF responds to an outbreak of measles in Pibor as well as provides humanitarian assistance to population displaced due to floods.

2021: In Tambura, Western Equatorian State, following the massive displacement of population due to violence, MSF launches an emergency intervention for a period of 6 months. MSF opens a new project in Boma and Marua in Greater Pibor Administrative Area.

2022: MSF launches emergency intervention in Magwi, Eastern Equatoria after an intercommunal conflict caused displacement of population.

Another emergency intervention started in Kodok and Melut, Upper Nile State, for the displaced population.

MSF provides humanitarian assistance to the population in Maban, Upper Nile, affected by the floods.

MSF opens a new project in Kajo Keji which provides secondary healthcare to the population.

MSF opens projects in Abyei town and Twic.

2023: Following conflict in Sudan, MSF begins emergency response to medical and humanitarian needs in Renk, Bulukat, Aweil and other areas following arrival of returnees and refugees.