South Sudan's Conflict Intensifies, Straining Vital Services

South Sudan has been plagued by intensified conflict and violence since the end of 2025, displacing thousands of families and disrupting livelihoods. The hospital military in Juba, supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is facing increasing pressure as the number of victims grows. In July, ICRC's Kieran Seager witnessed the suffering and resilience of patients and medical staff. A young boy, Kol, was orphaned at one and a half years old and received a bullet wound to his leg. His grandmother took him to the nearest health facility, which was then evacuated by air to the ICRC-supported hospital in Juba. Between January and June, 351 patients were admitted to the hospital, with most being transported by air by the ICRC. The hospital's capacity is overwhelmed, with patients being transferred to tents outside due to overcrowding. The ICRC has evacuated over 5,000 people since 2014 for vital surgeries, but infrastructure is under strain. The crisis receives little attention beyond borders, and the imbalance is evident at the hospital, a main trauma center in the country.