Médecins Sans Frontières condemns looting of medical center in South Sudan

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) strongly condemns the looting of its medical center in Pibor, South Sudan, a statement distributed by MSF office in Cairo said.

Medical supplies, therapeutic food for malnourished children and even patients' beds were stolen from the MSF facility during the looting, the statement reported

Bullet casings were found throughout the compound and the few items that were not stolen, such as IV bags, life-saving drugs and medical documents, were damaged and strewn throughout the compound with no regard for the urgent medical needs of the population, it added,

"This is a blatant and outrageous attack on life-saving medical care," said Corinne Benazech, MSF head of mission in South Sudan. "Every single item of value that was not bolted to the floor was stolen, even the hospital beds for treating sick and malnourished children in the pediatric ward. Sadly, pregnant women, children and those most vulnerable will suffer as a result of this looting, as this was one of the only medical centers available for patients to access life-saving care."

The MSF medical center was the only functioning health center in the entire region. It was also the hub from which MSF ran its medical services in nearby Gumuruk and Lekongole. Cumulatively, these projects serve a population of approximately 170,000 people.

As a result of this callous looting, MSF's ability to provide medical assistance in all three locations has been significantly reduced and crisis-affected populations now confront the possibility of significant avoidable disease and death. The medical crisis faced by the population is compounded by significant destruction within Pibor and widespread looting.