Kunduz attack may amount to war crime - UN Human Rights chief

  • 9 years ago
The US military said it launched an attack around the time a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) charity hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz was hit by an airstrike, killing 19 people: staff, patients and children.

“The strike may have led to collateral damage to a nearby medical facility,” according to a statement from US Army Colonel Brian Tribus, Spokesman for US Forces in Afghanistan.

UN Human Rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein led a chorus of condemnation, noting that an assault on a hospital could amount to a war crime.

“This event is utterly tragic, inexcusable, and possibly even criminal,” he said.

The hospital attack constitutes a grave violation of International Humanitarian Law, “according to an MSF statement:“http://www.msf.org/article/afghanistan-msf-demands-explanations-after-deadly-airstrikes-hit-hospital-kunduz

The medical charity, also known as Doctors Without Borders, said its staff phoned military officials at NATO in Kabul and Washington during the morning at