Hailey Tran
On October 3, 2015, a US military plane bombed the MSF Trauma Centre in Kunduz, Afghanistan, resulting in 12 staff and 10 patient deaths. The hospital was the only active medical facility in the area and the only trauma centre in northeastern Afghanistan, treating over 22,000 patients in 2014. The attack rendered the hospital unusable, with MSF staff evacuating from Kunduz and patients referred to other providers. While investigations by the US, Afghan government, and NATO are ongoing, no independent inquiry has been conducted.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 3 October 2015 |
| Location | Kunduz, Afghanistan |
| Hospital Name | MSF Trauma Centre |
| Number of Patients | 105 |
| Number of Staff | 140 (80 on duty) |
| Number of Deaths | 12 staff and 10 patients |
| Investigations | MSF, US, Afghan government, NATO, International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission |
| Attackers | US Military |
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What You'll Learn
The US bombed a hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, in 2015
On 3 October 2015, the United States Air Force attacked and bombed a hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan. The hospital, run by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, was the only active medical facility in the area. It was the only trauma centre in northeastern Afghanistan.
The attack began just after 2 am and lasted for over an hour, with the US military plane repeatedly bombing the hospital and shooting at anyone fleeing the building. The hospital was hit by missiles and partially destroyed, with fires burning throughout. During the attack, MSF staff in Afghanistan and New York tried to stop the strikes by contacting the Afghan military, ICRC, UN, and US military.
Twelve MSF staff and ten patients were killed in the attack, with over 30 people injured. The attack rendered the hospital unusable, and all critical patients had to be referred to other providers. All MSF staff were evacuated from Kunduz.
MSF condemned the attack, calling it a deliberate breach of international humanitarian law and a war crime. They stated that all warring parties had been notified of the hospital and its operations in advance. The US military initially claimed that the airstrike was carried out to defend US forces on the ground. However, General John F. Campbell, the US commander in Afghanistan, later stated that the airstrike was a US decision made within the US chain of command.
MSF demanded an independent investigation into the attack, and the US military punished 16 individuals over the incident. While investigations were conducted by MSF, the US, the Afghan government, and NATO, no independent investigation has ever occurred.
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The hospital was the only active medical facility in the area
In October 2015, the US bombed a hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, which was the only active medical facility in the area. The hospital was run by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, and was the only trauma centre in northeastern Afghanistan. In 2014, the hospital treated over 22,000 patients and performed more than 5,900 surgeries.
The bombing killed 12 staff members and 10 patients, with many others injured. It destroyed parts of the hospital, including the X-ray department, and left a huge hole in the wall from a missile strike. The attack made the hospital unusable, and all critical patients had to be referred to other providers. MSF staff were evacuated from Kunduz, and the organisation strongly condemned the bombing, demanding an independent investigation.
MSF's investigation confirmed that the hospital was in full control of MSF before and during the airstrikes, with no armed combatants within the compound and no fighting in the direct vicinity of the trauma centre. They emphasised that wounded combatants are patients who must be free from attack and treated without discrimination, and that medical staff should never be punished or attacked for providing treatment.
The US military has offered various excuses for the bombing, including that it was an accident and that they relied on a physical description of the compound provided by Afghan forces, leading them to attack the wrong target. However, MSF doctors provided the exact coordinates of the hospital during the attack, and investigators found no evidence that the crew or the US Special Forces commander on the ground knew the targeted compound was a hospital. There has been no independent investigation into the attack, and no findings from the US or Afghan government inquiries have been made public as of 2018.
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12 staff and 10 patients were killed
The US military has been responsible for bombing hospitals on multiple occasions. One notable incident occurred on October 3, 2015, when a US military plane bombed an MSF (Doctors Without Borders) hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, resulting in the deaths of 12 staff members and 10 patients.
The MSF hospital in Kunduz was the only active medical facility in the area and the only trauma centre in northeastern Afghanistan. In the aftermath of the bombing, the hospital was left partially destroyed, with fires burning throughout the building. MSF staff in Afghanistan and New York made frantic attempts to stop the strikes, contacting the Afghan military, ICRC, UN, and US military. Despite their efforts, the airstrikes continued for over an hour, resulting in devastating loss of life and critical damage to the hospital.
In the wake of the attack, MSF released a statement condemning the bombing and demanding an independent investigation. MSF's investigation confirmed that the hospital had no weapons and was in full control of MSF before and during the airstrikes. There were no armed combatants within the hospital compound, and no fighting in the direct vicinity of the trauma centre prior to the airstrikes. MSF emphasised that wounded combatants are patients who must be free from attack and treated without discrimination, and that medical staff should never be punished or attacked for providing treatment.
The US military has offered various excuses for the bombing, including claims that it was accidental and that the crew of the US gunship relied on a physical description provided by Afghan forces, resulting in the targeting of the wrong compound. However, investigators found that the hospital's GPS coordinates had been provided to the US military prior to the attack, and that multiple errors occurred, including a failure to properly brief the crew. The US has faced criticism for its handling of the investigation, with allegations of key evidence being destroyed and a lack of transparency.
The Kunduz hospital bombing highlights the tragic consequences of attacks on medical facilities during conflicts. It underscores the importance of upholding international law, which requires the protection of medical personnel and facilities, and the need for independent investigations to ensure accountability.
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No independent investigation has taken place
The US has been accused of bombing hospitals in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Syria. In October 2015, a US military plane bombed the MSF trauma centre in Kunduz, Afghanistan, resulting in the deaths of 12 staff members and 10 patients. While investigations into the incident have been conducted by the US, Afghan government, and NATO, no independent inquiry has taken place.
MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, has strongly condemned the bombing and demanded an independent investigation. They provided the GPS coordinates of their hospital to the US Department of Defense, the Afghan Ministry of Interior and Defense, and the US Army prior to the attack. Despite this, the US military plane repeatedly bombed the hospital and shot at those fleeing the building.
In the aftermath of the bombing, MSF staff in Afghanistan and New York made multiple attempts to stop the strikes by contacting the Afghan military, ICRC, UN, and US military. However, the airstrikes continued for over an hour. The International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission intended to conduct an independent investigation into the attacks, but it required consent from US and Afghan forces, which may not have been obtained.
While the US has provided excuses and explanations for the bombing, there has been no transparent, outside review of the incident. The US investigators were even accused of demolishing key evidence by driving a tank into the hospital ruins. The Afghan president appointed a five-member commission to investigate the airstrike, but as of 2018, no findings were made public.
The bombing of the MSF hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, highlights the vulnerability of medical facilities and personnel during times of conflict. It underscores the importance of adhering to international laws that prohibit attacks on hospitals and medical personnel. Unfortunately, without an independent investigation, it is challenging to ascertain the full truth behind the incident and ensure accountability for any wrongdoing.
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The US has delayed publishing its own report on the attack
The US has a history of bombing hospitals, one of the most notable incidents being the Kunduz hospital airstrike in Afghanistan in 2015. This attack rendered the hospital unusable, and all critical patients had to be referred elsewhere, while all MSF staff were evacuated from Kunduz. The MSF hospital was the only active medical facility in the area, and the only trauma centre in northeastern Afghanistan.
The US military plane bombed the hospital and shot at those fleeing the burning building. The MSF's investigation confirmed that the hospital implemented and respected the 'no weapons' policy, and that there were no armed combatants within the hospital compound. The US delayed publishing its report on the attack, possibly due to concerns over the violation of international law. Erna Paris, a speculator, commented that:
> 'To leave MSF dangling would seriously undermine the established laws of war.'
The US military personnel responsible for the attack would have to prove it was a military necessity to strike the hospital, or claim that the military was unaware of the hospital's location, risking prosecution for negligence. However, it is unlikely that the case will be tried in an international court, as the US is unlikely to turn its service members over for external prosecution.
The only investigations that have been done are by MSF, the US or Afghan government, and NATO, meaning that no independent investigation has ever occurred. However, MSF has strongly condemned the bombing and demanded an independent investigation. Following the attack, MSF engaged in discussions with all parties to the conflict and finalised formal commitments to provide medical care in Kunduz.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, a US military plane bombed and partially destroyed the MSF Trauma Centre in Kunduz, Afghanistan, on 3 October 2015.
Yes, 12 staff members and 10 patients were killed in the attack.
Yes, investigations were carried out by MSF, the US government, the Afghan government, and NATO. However, no independent investigation has ever occurred.
The hospital was left unusable, with fires burning in the facility and a huge hole made by a missile in the wall. All critical patients had to be referred to other providers, and all MSF staff were evacuated from Kunduz.
