Crisis Deepens at South Sudan-Ethiopia Border as Violence Intensifies
A devastating humanitarian crisis is unfolding at the South Sudan-Ethiopia border, where escalating violence has forced thousands of refugees to flee for their lives. In response to the dire situation, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has relocated its medical services from the border town of Burbeiye to Mattar, Ethiopia, to provide urgent care to those in need.
The conflict has sparked a dual emergency in Ethiopia’s Gambella region, with a growing cholera outbreak and an influx of refugees fleeing intense fighting in South Sudan’s Upper Nile and Jonglei states. MSF has treated over 1,200 cholera patients and provided more than 3,000 outpatient consultations in the area. However, the situation took a turn for the worse on May 12, when cross-border gunfire injured several people in Burbeiye, prompting MSF to receive nine war-wounded patients and bringing the total number of injured cases to 217 since February.
"It’s clear that Burbeiye has become critically dangerous, and with thousands of refugees fleeing in one night alone, we had to follow the people and the needs," says Joshua Eckley, MSF head of mission for Ethiopia. Refugees arriving in Mattar report fleeing aerial bombardments and other violence in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state, with at least one survivor treated by MSF suffering severe burn injuries.
Nyayul, a refugee who fled to Burbeiye and then to Mattar, shared her harrowing experience: "We moved through villages with no clinics, no medicine, not even water. I crossed the river, fled to Burbeiye, and then walked to Mattar. This is not life – this is survival." She also spoke of the trauma of losing her children in the chaos, saying, "When the bombs started falling, everyone ran. I lost my children in the chaos – I only have two with me now. The others, I don’t know where they are."
The situation in Mattar is dire, with between 35,000 and 85,000 people estimated to be living in makeshift and overcrowded shelters. The local infrastructure is stretched beyond capacity, with over 40% of malaria rapid diagnostic tests returning positive and nearly 7% of children under five showing signs of severe acute malnutrition. The risk of a public health catastrophe is imminent, with waterborne illnesses like cholera and acute watery diarrhea on the rise.
To respond to the crisis, MSF is establishing emergency services in Mattar, including mental healthcare, nutrition screening, and support for victims and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. "We need immediate action from donors, the UN, and NGO partners," says Eckley. "Healthcare and other essential services are urgently needed, and these communities cannot be left waiting. They’re not just escaping violence; they’re fleeing the complete breakdown of every system that was supposed to protect them." MSF is calling on all parties involved to ensure a safe humanitarian space and protect civilians and aid workers alike, and is urging donors and humanitarian partners to scale up assistance in Mattar, where shelter, water, and medical care are in desperately short supply.