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| Three Médecins Sans Frontières staff killed in suspected US airstrike on Afghan hospital | Three Médecins Sans Frontières staff killed in suspected US airstrike on Afghan hospital |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A US airstrike appears to have hit a hospital run by Médecins Sans Frontières in the Afghan city of Kunduz early on Saturday morning. | A US airstrike appears to have hit a hospital run by Médecins Sans Frontières in the Afghan city of Kunduz early on Saturday morning. |
| MSF said its hospital in the war-torn northern city was bombed and badly damaged in an aerial attack that killed at least three staff members. | |
| At the time of the bombing, 105 patients and their caretakers and more than 80 MSF international and national staff were in the hospital, the charity said. Thirty staff were still unaccounted for. | |
| “We are deeply shocked by the attack, the killing of our staff and patients and the heavy toll it has inflicted on healthcare in Kunduz,” says Bart Janssens, MSF director of operations. | “We are deeply shocked by the attack, the killing of our staff and patients and the heavy toll it has inflicted on healthcare in Kunduz,” says Bart Janssens, MSF director of operations. |
| Related: The Guardian view on the fall of Kunduz: the high price of international neglect | Editorial | Related: The Guardian view on the fall of Kunduz: the high price of international neglect | Editorial |
| “We do not yet have the final casualty figures, but our medical team are providing first aid and treating the injured patients and MSF personnel and accounting for the deceased. We urge all parties to respect the safety of health facilities and staff.” | “We do not yet have the final casualty figures, but our medical team are providing first aid and treating the injured patients and MSF personnel and accounting for the deceased. We urge all parties to respect the safety of health facilities and staff.” |
| A spokesman for the US military admitted they might be responsible. | A spokesman for the US military admitted they might be responsible. |
| “US forces conducted an airstrike in Kunduz city at 2:15am (local), 3 October, against individuals threatening the force. The strike may have resulted in collateral damage to a nearby medical facility. This incident is under investigation,” said Colonel Brian Tribus, spokesman for international forces in Afghanistan. | “US forces conducted an airstrike in Kunduz city at 2:15am (local), 3 October, against individuals threatening the force. The strike may have resulted in collateral damage to a nearby medical facility. This incident is under investigation,” said Colonel Brian Tribus, spokesman for international forces in Afghanistan. |
| The bombardment apparently followed heavy fighting around the hospital. An MSF staff member, who was on duty at the time, told the Guardian: “I was inside my office. Around 2am, the plane started bombing the main building of MSF. It lasted one-and-a-half hours. After 3.30am, I came out from my office and saw all of the hospital was on fire,” the staff member said. | The bombardment apparently followed heavy fighting around the hospital. An MSF staff member, who was on duty at the time, told the Guardian: “I was inside my office. Around 2am, the plane started bombing the main building of MSF. It lasted one-and-a-half hours. After 3.30am, I came out from my office and saw all of the hospital was on fire,” the staff member said. |
| “We couldn’t save our doctors, our nurses, our cleaners, our friends. They burned inside the hospital. We couldn’t save our brothers and friends,” the staff member said, asking to remain anonymous. | “We couldn’t save our doctors, our nurses, our cleaners, our friends. They burned inside the hospital. We couldn’t save our brothers and friends,” the staff member said, asking to remain anonymous. |
| Casualty tolls are likely to rise, as MSF gets a clearer view of the damage. One Kunduz resident told the Guardian that he knew four doctors who had been killed. | Casualty tolls are likely to rise, as MSF gets a clearer view of the damage. One Kunduz resident told the Guardian that he knew four doctors who had been killed. |
| The accident comes after the Afghan government on Thursday claimed they had regained control of Kunduz, after the Taliban seized the key city in northern Afghanistan on Monday. However, fighting has since endured in pockets around the city, and in surrounding districts, with both sides claiming to be in control. | The accident comes after the Afghan government on Thursday claimed they had regained control of Kunduz, after the Taliban seized the key city in northern Afghanistan on Monday. However, fighting has since endured in pockets around the city, and in surrounding districts, with both sides claiming to be in control. |
| The capture of Kunduz marks the first time since 2001 the Taliban breach an urban area. | The capture of Kunduz marks the first time since 2001 the Taliban breach an urban area. |
| Afghan special forces have been battling to retake the city with help from international special forces advising on the ground, as well as a series of US airstrikes. | Afghan special forces have been battling to retake the city with help from international special forces advising on the ground, as well as a series of US airstrikes. |
| Related: However long it lasts, Taliban capture of Kunduz is a major blow to Afghan government | Related: However long it lasts, Taliban capture of Kunduz is a major blow to Afghan government |
| Since fighting broke out on Monday, MSF had treated 394 wounded in Kunduz. When the aerial attack occurred Saturday morning, there were 105 patients with relatives, as well as over 80 MSF international and national staff present, the group said in its statement. | Since fighting broke out on Monday, MSF had treated 394 wounded in Kunduz. When the aerial attack occurred Saturday morning, there were 105 patients with relatives, as well as over 80 MSF international and national staff present, the group said in its statement. |
| It is the second time in a few months the safety of MSF staff in Kunduz is threatened. In July, the hospital closed down temporarily after armed members of the Afghan security forces physically assaulted three staff members and entered the hospital in search for insurgents. | It is the second time in a few months the safety of MSF staff in Kunduz is threatened. In July, the hospital closed down temporarily after armed members of the Afghan security forces physically assaulted three staff members and entered the hospital in search for insurgents. |
| MSF have worked in Afghanistan since 1980, and their hospital in Kunduz is their only facility in north-eastern Afghanistan. | MSF have worked in Afghanistan since 1980, and their hospital in Kunduz is their only facility in north-eastern Afghanistan. |