KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 3 (UPI) — Nine Doctors without Borders staff were killed and dozens of others were injured or missing after a United States airstrike may have caused “collateral damage” on a hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz.
The aid group, known internationally as Medecins Sans Frontieres, said its hospital was bombed despite U.S. and Afghan forces knowing its location. The bombing continued for more than 30 minutes after charity staff notified the military of the attack. The group said its location was communicated as recently as Thursday.
The group said 37 were seriously wounded, including 19 staff members. Some of the more seriously injured are being transferred to a nearby hospital, about two hours away.
“There are many patients and staff who remain unaccounted for. The numbers keep growing as we develop a clearer picture of the aftermath of this horrific bombing,” the aid group said.
Col. Brian Tribus, a spokesman for U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan, confirmed a U.S. airstrike conducted at around 2:15 a.m. local time “may have caused collateral damage to a nearby health facility.”
“I can confirm that U.S. forces conducted an airstrike at approximately 2:15 a.m. this morning October 3, in Kunduz city against individuals threatening the force. The airstrike may have caused collateral damage to a nearby health facility,” Tribus said.
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul and the International Committee of the Red Cross expressed sympathies for victims. The Red Cross said the bombing violates international humanitarian law, which protects the civilian population, medical personnel, ambulances and medical facilities from violence.
“This is an appalling tragedy. Such attacks against health workers and facilities undermine the capacity of humanitarian organizations to assist the Afghan people at a time when they most urgently need it,” Jean-Nicolas Marti, Head of the international Red Cross delegation in Afghanistan, said.
Fotos: consecuencias del bombardeo al hospital de #Kunduz, que ha dejado 3 trabajadores MSF muertos y muchos heridos pic.twitter.com/dzZZdKzXAA— MédicosSinFronteras (@MSF_espana) October 3, 2015
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