Sheltering Under Trees: Displaced People’s Plight in Jonglei, Upper Nile, and Lakes.
By MSF
Thousands of people displaced by escalating violence in parts of Jonglei State, Upper Nile State, and Lakes State are now living in dire conditions, forced to survive outdoors with little access to food, clean water, or medical care.
After fleeing violent clashes, many families are sheltering under trees or in makeshift settlements, exposed to harsh weather and growing health risks.
“I have lived through many wars, but this kind of displacement has never happened before,” said 77-year-old Moses, who fled his home in Lankien as violence intensified. “I have never seen civilians’ homes burned to ashes on such a scale. We are now living under the trees.”
Mass displacement and worsening conditions
Recent fighting between government forces and opposition groups around Lankien in Nyirol County and along the Sobat River has forced tens of thousands of people to flee.
At least 25,000 people have taken refuge in Chuil, while thousands more are scattered across nearby villages and swamps. Others have fled to Nyangore and Barmach in Ulang County, Upper Nile State, while an additional 28,000 people have arrived in Minkaman.
Many displaced families walked for days to escape the violence, often fleeing multiple times. Most arrived with nothing and now lack even the most basic necessities.
“This situation is about life and death,” said Nyamai, a mother of three in Chuil. “We survived by boiling leaves from trees. We need food, water, and shelter. Without these, survival here will not be possible.”
Humanitarian response under strain
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has expanded its operations to support displaced communities, but needs continue to outpace available assistance.
In Chuil, MSF has upgraded the primary health care center to a 60-bed facility providing emergency care, maternal health services, and malnutrition treatment. Since late February, teams have conducted over 2,200 consultations and admitted 172 patients.
MSF has also distributed essential relief items—including mosquito nets, blankets, soap, and plastic sheeting—to more than 1,500 families. Water and sanitation efforts include constructing 300 latrines and a water purification plant.
Mobile clinics are reaching remote areas such as Yakuach, Tanakuacha, and Pathiel, where access remains extremely difficult due to swamps and waterways.
In Minkaman, MSF teams have carried out more than 2,200 consultations for newly arrived displaced people and are working to improve water supply and sanitation infrastructure.
Rising health risks and malnutrition
Despite these efforts, humanitarian needs remain critical. Limited access to clean water, sanitation, and nutrition services is increasing the risk of disease outbreaks, including cholera.
Screenings in Chuil show alarming levels of malnutrition. More than half of children under five screened were acutely malnourished, while over one-fifth of pregnant and breastfeeding women were also affected.
Attacks on health facilities worsen crisis
The situation is further compounded by attacks on healthcare infrastructure. In 2025, the MSF-supported hospital in Ulang was looted and destroyed, and more recently, the hospital in Lankien was bombed—leaving the region without key referral facilities.
“Communities must be able to access medical care safely,” said MSF officials, warning that continued violence and restricted humanitarian access could lead to a catastrophic deterioration of conditions.
Urgent call for action
Humanitarian organizations are calling for an immediate and coordinated scale-up of aid to reach isolated communities still cut off from assistance.
MSF has urged all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and ensure safe, uninterrupted access for humanitarian workers.
Without sustained support and improved access, aid agencies warn that the crisis could rapidly worsen, with devastating consequences for thousands of vulnerable people already struggling to survive.
