Apparent U.S. Airstrike Destroys MSF Hospital In Kunduz; Organization Withdraws From City, Demands Independent Investigation

News outlets report on the bombing of a Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, allegedly by U.S. forces.

The Atlantic: The Aftermath of the Airstrike on Doctors Without Borders
“Doctors Without Borders, whose trauma hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, was bombed by an apparent U.S. airstrike early Saturday morning, announced Sunday that it has completely withdrawn from the northern Afghan city where its medical center now lies charred and inoperable…” (Wang, 10/4).

The Guardian: MSF hospital: U.S. condemned over ‘horrific bombing’ in Afghanistan
“…An MSF source told the Guardian that up to 20 Afghan members of staff and patients were killed and dozens more injured, adding that the death toll could rise further. Among the killed were nine MSF staff and seven patients from the intensive care unit, including three children. None of the international doctors volunteering at the facility were hurt…” (Rasmussen, 10/3).

New York Times: Doctors Without Borders Says It Is Leaving Kunduz After Strike on Hospital
“…The Pentagon, which has said it may have inadvertently struck the hospital during a military operation, said in a statement on Sunday that a preliminary investigation of the episode would be completed in a matter of days. The Afghan government also vowed to investigate the airstrike…” (Rubin, 10/4).

Reuters: Medical charity MSF demands independent probe into strike on Afghan hospital
“Medical aid group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on Sunday demanded an independent international inquiry into a suspected U.S. air strike that killed 22 people in an Afghan hospital it runs, branding the attack a ‘war crime’…” (Harooni/MacAskill, 10/4).

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