"Doctors Without Borders accused U.S. forces Tuesday of "deliberately" bombing its hospital in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz and renewed its calls for an independent investigation into the incident that left 22 people dead.
The international medical charity has launched a blistering attack against the U.S. military in the days since the Saturday morning airstrike. American officials have said three investigations are underway into the strike, which they said was requested by Afghan forces that were under fire from Taliban insurgents in the area.
"Nothing can excuse violence against patients, medical workers and health facilities," Joanne Liu, the charity group's international president, said in a statement. "Under international humanitarian law, hospitals in conflict zones are protected spaces. Until proven otherwise, the events of last Saturday amount to an inexcusable violation of this law."
A day earlier, the U.S. military changed its account of the incident, which also drew sharp criticism from the charity group. Initial reports by military officials said the airstrike was called to protect U.S. ground forces who were under direct fire from Taliban insurgents in Kunduz.
Gen. John F. Campbell, the top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, revised that account on Monday, saying the airstrike had been requested by Afghan forces, not Americans.
U.S. officials have not explained how the main hospital building was hit several times with airstrikes while surrounding buildings were mostly unscathed, according to accounts from medical staff and residents.
Liu and other Doctors Without Borders officials have said the facility was well known and its GPS coordinates had been repeatedly shared with U.S. and Afghan military officials before and during the attack.
"This attack does not just touch MSF, but it affects humanitarian work everywhere, and fundamentally undermines the core principles of humanitarian action," Liu said, using the acronym for the group's French name, Medecins Sans Frontieres. "We need answers, not just for us but for all medical and humanitarian staff assisting victims of conflict, anywhere in the world."
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/doctors-without-borders-afghan-hospital-deliberately-bombed/ar-AAfacdE?ocid=spartandhp
