On the morning of October 3, due to an airstrike by the US Air Force in the city of Kunduz in northern Afghanistan, a hospital belonging to the Medecins Sans Frontieres international organisation was destroyed. Over 100 patients and 80 doctors were located there during the bombardment. The attack resulted in the deaths of 20 hospital employees and patients and about 40 people were injured.

Medecins Sans Frontieres representatives called the airstrike a gross violation of international law. I would find it hard to argue with this statement. It is bewildering that the attack occurred despite the fact that the hospital’s exact coordinates had been provided to the international coalition in order to prevent such an incident.

According to the international organisation, there were no militants from extremist groups among the hospital patients during the attack.

It should be noted that this was far from the first case when civilians have died in Afghanistan due to the US’s indiscriminate use of weapons.

We strongly condemn the airstrike against this civilian facility. We demand an immediate, objective investigation into the incident and the punishment of those guilty of this tragedy.

We express our sincerest condolences to the victims’ families and wish for the injured’s speedy recovery.

 

                                                                           October 5, 2015