A humanitarian and developmental organization, Health Link South Sudan (HLSS), over the weekend evacuated its workers following an attack on Imehejek Hospital, Lafon County in Eastern Equatoria State.
On Saturday, a gunman fired at the Imehejek Hospital premises but no deaths or injuries were reported.
Lafon County Commissioner Mengisto Ukach told Radio Tamazuj that the shooting created fear and that the Health Link personnel have been evacuated.
“There was no death or injury reported. Someone started attacking and shooting these people when they were having their supper and all the three bullets did not touch anybody,” he explained. “So, because the staff was scared, the management of Health Link decided to temporarily evacuate them because the criminal has not yet been arrested and his intention is not known.”
“As a government, our concern is the security of every citizen under our jurisdiction and we will continue pursuing the perpetrator until we apprehend him so that the health workers come back,” he added.
The commissioner said the Health Link staff were on Sunday evacuated Torit town.
Ambrose Oyet, the chairperson of the Lopit community in Torit, condemned the attack which he called barbaric and said it hinders access to services.
“We the Lopit Community Association in Torit hereby condemn in the strongest terms possible such barbaric behavior and are requesting humanitarian workers working in Imehejek Hospital to remain calm while the Monyiomiji are still following up to identify the suspect to make sure he is brought to book,” he said. “We appeal to all international and national NGOs operating in Imhehejek Hospital to continue with their normal duties.”
The Eastern Equatoria State health minister, Lodae Pasquale, confirmed the temporary evacuation of the Health Link staff and said the health facility is now being run by government employees.
“I got the information about the incident but not all the staff have completely evacuated the location because we still have people on the ground and the hospital is still operational,” he said. “There are some health workers there right now. The few who came here (Torit) are just some high-level staff who came to hold a special meeting to see how we can contain the situation.”
Efforts to reach Health Link officials for comment were futile.
Last week, two humanitarians working for Caritas Switzerland and a teacher were shot dead along the Ikotos-Tsertenya road.