JUBA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- International medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Tuesday it has suspended majority of its activities in South Sudan's Maban area after a violent attack on aid workers and facilities on Monday.
MSF head of mission in South Sudan Samuel Theodore also condemned the brutal attack and called for the respect and protection of humanitarian workers and health facilities.
"Despite the attack to our facilities, our team on the ground will keep ensuring life-saving treatment to patients suffering from the most critical medical conditions," said Theodore in a statement issued in Juba.
"However, as the safety of healthcare personnel and facilities cannot be guaranteed, we have no other choice but to suspend the rest of our activities, which will leave 88,000 people with limited access to much-needed medical services," he added.
A group of unidentified armed men on Monday broke into MSF office and compound, looting the organization and staff's properties, burning down a tent full of equipment and destroying most of the vehicles and communication devices.
Theodore confirmed that no MSF staff were injured during the attack, which happened after a peaceful protest by local youth in Maban county turned violent.
According to the medical charity, the MSF team is now safe and the organization is currently monitoring the situation.
Theodore said the attack has forced MSF to suspend the majority of its medical support to the host communities and the refugee population in Maban area, where the organization operates a primary and secondary healthcare hospital in Doro refugee camp and ensures primary healthcare consultations in Bunj State Hospital.
According to the UN, thousands of humanitarians are providing aid to millions of people in South Sudan affected by war, hunger and disease in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
