MSF says death toll soars to 42 in Afghan hospital strike

The death toll of a U.S. airstrike against a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders, an international medical aid agency also known by its French language acronym (MSF), in Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province has risen to 42, the group said on Saturday.

"After two months of in-depth investigations following the U.S. airstrikes that destroyed the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) trauma centre in Kunduz, Afghanistan, on Oct. 3, MSF today announces with great sadness that the death toll has been confirmed to be at least 42 people," the group said in a statement.

The revised figures include the 14 MSF staff members confirmed to have been killed, as well as 24 patients and four caretakers (relatives that provided additional nursing care for the patients in the hospital), it added.

The incident took place during a brief seizure of the city by Taliban militants. The Taliban took control of the city, 250 km north of Afghan capital, on Sept. 28 and The Afghan security forces retake the city after heavy clashes on Oct. 13.

Previously, MSF had reported an approximate death toll of at least 30 people, but the figure has been renewed after methodical review of MSF records and family claims, as well as patient, staff and family testimonies.

Late last month, the U.S. military stationed in Afghanistan announced that the attack was caused primarily by human error, admitting that some members of U.S. forces involved in the incident did not follow the rules of engagement.

"Before making any decisions about reopening our hospital in Kunduz, MSF is re-engaging with all parties to the conflict to seek clear assurances that MSF teams, patients and facilities are safe from attack, and that the work of MSF will be fully respected in Kunduz and all locations where we work in Afghanistan," the statement reads. Endit