Healthcare provider Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has raised a red flag over depleting funding that could plunge Jonglei State in eastern South Sudan into serious humanitarian crisis.

MSF released a statement on Tuesday, January 19, lamenting the deplorable state of Riang in Jonglei that it said had been hard-hit by water and sanitation crises. The organisation also said the residents were in dire need of medical care- a situation that had been triggered by waves of violence and flooding. 770 people had been treated in span of five days, but still more people want medical attention, MSF said.

‘‘A worrying 60 per cent of the children under the age of five treated in our mobile clinic tested positive for malaria; some of them were already in severe condition,’’ said MSF Coordinator Roberto Wright.

Wright added that there were suspected cases of urinary tract infection in women, a problem he attributed to the water shortage.

Lack of funds

MSF has decried a looming cash crunch that could aggravate the sorry situation in Jonglei if no swift remedial action is taken.

‘‘International donors have only ensured funding for other health organisations working in Jonglei until next month, so the situation in the region may quickly deteriorate even further,’’ Wright said. 

However, the sharp decline in funding is not only a situation witnessed in Jonglei. The healthcare provider said other regions in Kenya are also experiencing similar conditions.