MSF decries escalation of fighting in S. Sudan

Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) on Friday condemned the escalation of hostilities in South Sudan between government and opposition forces in some states, which it said has hampered humanitarian services.

The renewed fighting between the government force and the Sudan People's Liberation Army-in-Opposition and their allied groups in Unity, Jonglei and Upper Nile states has resulted in the suspension of medical services, destruction of health structures and evacuation of medical staff, said MSF head of mission in South Sudan, Paul Critchley.

"The escalation has left people in conflict areas exposed to violence, and without much needed medical care and humanitarian assistance," he told a news conference in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

The insecurity is preventing planes from landing and has forced hundreds of people to seek shelter at the United Nation (UN)'s Protection of Civilians site in the last few days, he said.

The charity says it's providing life-saving medical assistance for people wounded in fighting in Melut, Upper Nile, despite no longer being able to fly in supplies and personnel.

"MSF's ability to provide care to those in desperate need is now at risk unless the safe passage of staff and supplies is guaranteed," he said, adding that "all parties to the conflict must respect civilians and healthcare structures in order to prevent even more unnecessary suffering."

The United Nations (UN) Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Toby Lanzer, warned early this week that the over two-week fighting in these states have "again devastated countless lives."

There have been eyewitness accounts of targeted rape and killing of civilians including children.

UN agencies and their partners are working to address the immense humanitarian consequences of the violence which has resulted in more than 650,000 civilians being left without life- saving aid.

UN reports say over 2 million South Sudanese remain displaced with some 500,000 in neighboring countries, and more than 2.5 million people face severe food insecurity, especially in the greater Upper Nile region, and the figure is very likely to increase significantly. Endi