Swiss gov't dismayed at attacks on medical facilities in conflict zones

Following attacks this month on medical facilities in both Afghanistan and Yemen, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) called on Thursday for all warring factions to respect international humanitarian law.

"In particular, the FDFA appeals to all parties to the conflict to ensure the necessary precautions for the protection of civilians and to spare medical facilities and personnel," the department said in a statement.

On Oct. 3, U.S. air strikes "mistakenly struck" a hospital run by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, despite all parties to the conflict, including Washington and Kabul, having been regularly provided with GPS coordinates of the facilities.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, General Director of MSF Hong Kong Remi Carrier stated that "when the aerial attack occurred, there were 105 patients in the hospital and more than 80 MSF international and national staff present. Twelve staff members and at least 10 patients, including three children, were killed; 37 people were injured including 19 staff members."

Earlier this week, another health care facility supported by MSF was allegedly struck by Saudi-led coalition forces in Northern Yemen during the night of Oct. 26 to 27, injuring one member of staff.

Similar to the Kunduz attacks, MSF indicated that the GPS coordinates of the hospital had been issued to Saudi-led forces, and that a MSF logo had been placed on the roof of the facility.

According to MSF, the destruction of the hospital, which had treated some 3,400 patients since it opened in May last year, leaves some 200,000 Yemenis without essential health care services.

"The FDFA is dismayed by the attacks on medical facilities in conflict zones and expresses its condolences to the victims of the attacks and their families as well as the organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) which has been particularly affected." Endit