This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/12/world/asia/afghanistan-violence-kabul-nangarhar.html

The article has changed 37 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Deadly Attacks Hit Afghan Maternity Clinic and Funeral Ceremony Attacks on Afghan Maternity Clinic and Funeral Ceremony Leave Dozens Dead
(about 4 hours later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghans woke to another deadly day on Tuesday, with gunmen storming a maternity clinic in the capital and a suicide bomber killing at least 15 civilians at a funeral in the eastern province of Nangarhar. KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghans woke to another deadly day on Tuesday, with gunmen storming a maternity clinic in the capital and a suicide bomber wreaking havoc at a funeral in the eastern province of Nangarhar, together leaving at least 40 people dead and more than 80 wounded.
Violence has intensified across Afghanistan, despite an initial peace agreement between the United States and the Taliban that was supposed to bring the war closer to an end, as well as the rapid spread of the coronavirus across the country. The Taliban have ignored appeals for a humanitarian cease-fire.Violence has intensified across Afghanistan, despite an initial peace agreement between the United States and the Taliban that was supposed to bring the war closer to an end, as well as the rapid spread of the coronavirus across the country. The Taliban have ignored appeals for a humanitarian cease-fire.
The attack in Kabul, the capital, targeted a 100-bed hospital in the city’s west, a largely Shiite area. The hospital is known for its large maternity ward, and special forces were seen rescuing newborn babies as the fighting continued. The attack in Kabul, the capital, targeted a 100-bed hospital in the city’s west, a largely Shiite area. The hospital is known for its large maternity ward, and special forces were seen rescuing newborn babies during the fighting.
Marwa Amini, a spokeswoman for the Interior Ministry, said four civilians had been killed in the attack so far and five had been wounded. She said 80 people, including mothers, children and hospital staff, had been evacuated. The Interior Ministry declared the attack over and the three assailants dead after about five hours of fighting. The country’s health ministry said the attack had killed “15 mothers and their newborn babies” and wounded 16 others, but local elders suggested the fatalities could be higher. Tariq Arian, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said that about 100 people had been rescued.
Crowds had gathered outside the hospital and emotions ran high as they saw babies soaked in blood being rescued. The relatives of one woman who had given birth at dawn were trying to get news, her brother wailing and twisting in pain.
A community elder came out of the hospital with a list of a dozen newborns who had been evacuated to other hospitals. As he read the names of their mothers and the names of the hospitals the babies had been sent to, a man from the anxious crowd asked about the mothers.
“Fifteen martyred mothers, their bodies are in the ambulances being evacuated now. We put them in body bags,” said Abdul Hadi, the local community elder. “I recognized the babies from the names written on the tape on their stomachs.”
The bombing in Nangarhar Province targeted the funeral of a local police commander, who had died of natural causes. A suicide bomber detonated his explosives just as people were lining up for the final prayer, provincial officials said.The bombing in Nangarhar Province targeted the funeral of a local police commander, who had died of natural causes. A suicide bomber detonated his explosives just as people were lining up for the final prayer, provincial officials said.
Feroz Bashari, the head of the Afghan government’s media and communications, said 15 civilians, including a member of the provincial council, had been killed in the suicide attack. He said 45 others were wounded. Shahmahmood Miakhel, the governor of Nangarhar, said at least 25 people were killed and 68 wounded.
The attacks come as the coronavirus is spreading rapidly across Afghanistan, threatening to overwhelm the impoverished country’s medical facilities. No group has claimed either of the attacks. The Taliban, in a statement, denied that they were behind the Kabul hospital assault.
Wahid Majrooh, the deputy minister of health, said the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases had risen to just below 5,000. But testing capacity is extremely limited and officials have warned that the true numbers are certain to be much higher. The attacks come as the coronavirus is spreading rapidly across Afghanistan, threatening to overwhelm the country’s medical facilities.
Wahid Majrooh, the deputy minister of health, said the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases had risen to nearly 5,000. But testing capacity is extremely limited, and officials have warned that the true numbers are certain to be much higher.
“Today, my doctor, my medical personnel, the poor mother who is in labor are left in chaos — the doctor that is there to rescue her is covered in blood and falls next to her bed,” said Mr. Majrooh.“Today, my doctor, my medical personnel, the poor mother who is in labor are left in chaos — the doctor that is there to rescue her is covered in blood and falls next to her bed,” said Mr. Majrooh.
Najim Rahim contributed reporting. Najim Rahim contributed reporting from Kabul, and Zabihullah Ghazi from Jalalabad.