A suspected US airstrike on a hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz yesterday left nine Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) staff dead, in a bombardment the charity said continued for more than 30 minutes after Washington was informed.
Dozens more were seriously wounded at the facility, a key medical lifeline that has been running “beyond capacity” during fighting that saw the Taliban seize control of the northern provincial capital for several days.
The strike early yesterday left the building engulfed in flames, with photographs posted by MSF showing their staff shocked and dazed.
Photo: Reuters / Medecins Sans Frontieres
“At 2:10am local time... the MSF trauma center in Kunduz was hit several times during sustained bombing and was very badly damaged,” the organization said. “It is with deep sadness that we confirm so far the death of nine MSF staff during the bombing... 37 people were seriously wounded... There are many patients and staff who remain unaccounted for.”
It said the bombing continued for more than 30 minutes after US and Afghan military officials in Kabul and Washington were first informed.
“All parties to the conflict, including in Kabul and Washington, were clearly informed of the precise location [GPS coordinates] of the MSF facilities,” the statement added.
The Afghan Ministry of Defense expressed sadness but in a statement said “a group of terrorists armed with light and heavy weapons... were using the hospital building as a position to target Afghan forces and civilians.”
NATO conceded US forces might have been behind the strike but has not so far commented on MSF’s specific claims.
“US forces conducted an air strike in Kunduz city at 2:15am [local time]... against individuals threatening the force,” a NATO statement said. “The strike might have resulted in collateral damage to a nearby medical facility. This incident is under investigation.”
Yesterday’s bombing came after Taliban insurgents overran the northern Afghan city on Monday.
MSF said about 105 patients and their caregivers, as well as more than 80 international and local MSF staff were in the hospital at the time of the bombing.
The blackened building was filled with the smell of burning flesh and some bodies were charred beyond recognition, said Qiamudeen, a 31-year-old shopkeeper whose neighbor was killed in the strike.
“We are deeply shocked by the attack, the killing of our staff... and the heavy toll it has inflicted on healthcare in Kunduz,” MSF director of operations Bart Janssens said. “We do not yet have the final casualty figures, but our medical team are providing first aid and treating the injured patients. We urge all parties to respect the safety of health facilities and staff.”
In a statement, the Taliban accused “barbaric American forces” of deliberately carrying out yesterday’s strike, which “killed and wounded tens of doctors, nurses and patients.”
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