MSF condemns killing of its staff in Leer County
The Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has condemned the killing of its national employee in Leer, Unity State.
The organisation said Peter Mathor Tap was shot and killed while off duty on April 10 when fighting broke out in the area.
“We are shocked and profoundly saddened by the tragic death of our colleague Peter. We send our heartfelt condolences, “Federica Franco, MSF Head of Mission for South Sudan, expressed her sympathies to his family and friends.
Peter Mathor Tap had been with MSF in Leer since 2007. He first served as a Senior Department Supervisor at the former MSF hospital—which was destroyed twice during the civil war, once in 2014 and again in 2015. He later served as a nursing care provider in one of the organisation’s community-based health care (CBHC) facilities.
Peter experienced polio as a child, which left him disabled and forced him to walk with the aid of a stick. This hampered his ability to flee when armed assailants arrived in his neighbourhood.
“We strongly condemn the indiscriminate violence being carried out by armed groups that have killed and injured many innocent civilians in Leer, including those most vulnerable, such as children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities,” the statement read in part.
Civilians caught in the crossfire
With several humanitarian groups forced to flee Leer due to instability, the MSF clinic has remained one of the few fully operational healthcare institutions in the county. It is the sole hospital providing sophisticated emergency care.
Since the most recent conflict began, the MSF clinic in Leer town has received over 30 victims of 30 gunshot wounds, as well as several other trauma victims, including sexual abuse survivors.
Initial assessments by MSF show widespread devastation, particularly in Adok, Pilleny, Thonyor, and Touchria, where many people were killed, homes were set ablaze, and the property was looted.
As a result, tens of thousands of people, including MSF employees, have been forced to flee their homes. Those who have been displaced are afraid to return home, and many have lost everything they own.
“They [attackers] were shooting, and everyone ran to the swamp area because we were fleeing for our lives. People were slaughtered, including mothers, youth and young children,” exclaimed Nyadeng, an elderly female resident of Adok.
“When we came out, we found the area was burnt, they took the goats, cattle and also looted property.”
“We were hiding in the bush for five days. People are staying outside without shelter. Also, they are suffering due to hunger because they don’t have food,” said John, a local MSF staff member who is among the people displaced in Leer.
“The situation is very terrible. The people here need more support,” he added.
The violence has also hampered the delivery of critical medical services to the populations. Three of MSF’s six CBHC facilities in Leer County are currently dysfunctional, as one was partially destroyed and two others were robbed during the recent attacks.
Despite this, MSF is committed to ensuring that individuals have access to critical medical care. The MSF clinic in Leer town, as well as the three other CBHCs, are still open. MSF has also started bringing mobile clinics to the main displaced people’s camps.
