“Hospitals accommodating patients and medical personnel may never be the object of attack,” said Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative for Afghanistan in a news update, noting that international humanitarian law also prohibits the use of medical facilities for military purposes.
Mr. Haysom commended Médecins sans Frontières for its work, and expressed condolences to the medical personnel, their patients, family and friends.
“I reiterate my call on all parties to the conflict to respect and protect medical and humanitarian personnel and facilities,” the UN envoy added.
Meanwhile, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, Mark Bowden, said he is “deeply concerned” for the MSF staff and their patients, and the loss suffered by the people of Kunduz. “The civilian population is now facing a further acute situation, finding themselves cut off from vital medical support,” he warned.
From Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said there must be a swift, full and transparent investigation into the airstrikes that hit the clinic.
“This event is utterly tragic, inexcusable, and possibly even criminal,” Mr. Zeid said in a news release. “International and Afghan military planners have an obligation to respect and protect civilians at all times, and medical facilities and personnel are the object of a special protection. These obligations apply no matter whose air force is involved, and irrespective of the location."
According to MSF, pro-Government forces had been informed of the precise location of the medical facilities. While it has yet to be established whether or not the hospital or immediate surroundings were the target of the attack, or were recklessly endangered by it, airstrikes reportedly continued to hit the area for a further 30 minutes after pro-Government forces were informed they were endangering a medical facility.
According to the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR), a United States spokesperson has reportedly been quoted saying US planes were carrying out airstrikes at around the time the hospital was hit.
The UN Human Rights chief said it was essential to ensure any inquiry was independent, impartial, transparent and effective. “This deeply shocking event should be promptly, thoroughly and independently investigated and the results should be made public," he said.
"The seriousness of the incident is underlined by the fact that, if established as deliberate in a court of law, an airstrike on a hospital may amount to a war crime," he explained.
un.org
3/10/15
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UN denounces Afghan hospital bombing....
ReplyDeleteAir strikes on a hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz that killed 19 people were "tragic, inexcusable and possibly even criminal", the UN human rights chief says.
High Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein urged a full and transparent investigation into the attack.
Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said at least 12 of its staff and seven patients were killed.
US forces were carrying out air strikes at the time...........BBC
Les frappes aériennes sur un hôpital de MSF à Kunduz sont "inexcusables", selon l'ONU ...
ReplyDeleteUne frappe aérienne américaine "pourrait avoir" touché le centre de soins de MSF dans la ville de Kunduz en Afghanistan dans la nuit de vendredi à samedi. Ce bombardement a tué 12 employés de MSF et 7 patients dont trois enfants, selon l'ONG.
Le centre de soins de Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) à Kunduz, ville afghane reprise aux Taliban par l'armée, a été "fortement endommagé" dans la nuit du vendredi 2 octobre au samedi 3 octobre par un bombardement qui a tué 12 employés de MSF et 7 patients dont trois enfants et fait 37 blessés. Le bombardement qui pourrait être dû à un raid américain selon l'Otan, a été qualifié par l'ONU d'"inexcusable" et de "potentiellement criminel".
L'armée américaine a, de son côté, reconnu samedi avoir mené des frappes aériennes "à proximité" de l'hôpital de MSF en question...........france24.com