Facebook Twitter (X) Instagram Somali Magazine - People's Magazine
MSF warns of rising cholera cases, malnutrition, and overwhelmed health systems in border town camps
An international medical charity, Doctors Without Borders (also known as Médecins Sans Frontières or MSF), has raised the alarm about an urgent health crisis affecting South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia. The group is warning that the combination of increasing cholera cases, severe malnutrition, and overcrowded living conditions could lead to a major health disaster if no action is taken soon.
The warning comes as tens of thousands of people have fled renewed fighting in South Sudan and crossed into Ethiopia, seeking safety. These refugees have mostly ended up in the border town of Mattar, where local health systems are overwhelmed and unable to handle the sudden increase in patients.
MSF reports that between 35,000 and 85,000 refugees have arrived in Mattar. Many are suffering from waterborne diseases, including cholera and acute watery diarrhoea. So far, MSF has treated over 1,200 cholera patients, warning that the illness can be fatal in up to 20% of cases if not treated quickly. The situation is further complicated by a high number of malaria infections, with over 40% of tests returning positive. In addition, nearly 7% of children under the age of five are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, putting their lives at serious risk.
Since February, MSF clinics in the region have also treated more than 200 people with injuries related to the ongoing conflict in South Sudan. The organisation says that shelter, clean water, and medical care are in extremely short supply in Mattar, worsening the already fragile health situation.
MSF is calling on all parties involved in the South Sudan conflict to allow full and safe access for humanitarian aid groups. It is also urging international donors to step up their support, saying that immediate assistance is needed to prevent thousands more from falling sick or dying.
The surge in refugees is a result of escalating violence in South Sudan, where a peace deal between rival leaders has collapsed. Forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those backing First Vice President Riek Machar have been clashing again. Machar was placed under house arrest in March, a move that has further undermined peace efforts in the country.
The United Nations has also expressed deep concern about the situation, warning that South Sudan is heading toward a larger crisis. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said the increasing violence is worsening the already critical humanitarian and human rights conditions. Between May 3 and May 20, at least 75 civilians were reportedly killed and many others injured. UN reports also indicate that South Sudanese military forces launched attacks on populated areas, including a health centre run by MSF.
As the crisis grows, the need for emergency aid becomes more urgent by the day. Without more international support and better access for humanitarian workers, MSF warns that the situation could spiral into a full-blown catastrophe—putting thousands of lives at risk in the refugee camps of Ethiopia.