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3 doctors killed in air strike on MSF hospital in N. Afghanistan

Xinhua, October 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

Three doctors of a Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) hospital were killed as an air strike targeted the MSF medical facility in Afghanistan's northern Kunduz city on Saturday, the MSF said in a statement.

"Three MSF staff are confirmed dead and more than 30 are unaccounted after (MSF) trauma center in Kunduz was hit at 2:10 a. m. local time on Saturday (2140 GMT Friday) several times during sustained bombing and was very badly damaged," the statement said.

The medical team was working around the clock to do everything possible for the safety of patients and hospital staff, the statement said.

"We are deeply shocked by the attack, the killing of our staff and patients and the heavy toll it has inflicted on healthcare in Kunduz," Bart Janssens, MSF Director of Operations, said in the statement.

The statement also urged all parties to respect the safety of health facilities and staff.

The MSF has treated 394 wounded since fighting broke out on Monday in Kunduz, the statement added.

Taliban militants captured parts of Kunduz, some 250 km north of Kabul, on Monday and the government forces began a counter- offensive on Thursday.

According to Kunduz police, hundreds of Taliban militants have been killed so far. Endi