MSF claims war crime after US hits hospital

A medical charity has accused coalition leaders of a war crime after a trauma hospital in Afghanistan was hit by missiles.

US explosives hit the Medicins Sans Frontieres hospital in the city of Kunduz after the city was occupied by the Taliban.

But yesterday MSF stepped up calls for a war crimes investigation after statements from the Afghan government, apparently claiming the attack was "justified."

MSF says it supplied coordinates of the hospital to US and Afghan authorities on September 29 – and that it was not involved in the combat.

Some 12 MSF workers together with ten patients were killed in the attack on the building, which sheltered some 180 people at the time.

The World Health Organisation yesterday called on combatants to respect the "safety and neutrality" of health workers and health facilities.

A spokesman said: "In 2014, governments agreed on a landmark resolution at the United Nations General Assembly, urging States to take urgent steps to ensure that health workers in all countries are protected from violence, whether in armed conflict or in times of peace.

"Health workers continue, however, to face mounting threats, particularly in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen."

MSF general director Christopher Stokes said yesterday: "We reiterate that the main hospital building, where medical personnel were caring for patients, was repeatedly and very precisely hit during each aerial raid, while the rest of the compound was left mostly untouched.

"We condemn this attack, which constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law.”

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