Afghanistan: Gunmen attack maternity hospital in Kabul

Armed men have stormed a maternity hospital in the western part of the Afghan capital Kabul.

At least 13 people — including two newborn babies — were killed in in the attack on Dasht-e-Barchi Hospital, and 15 others were wounded, officials said.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack. At least three attackers wearing police uniforms entered the facility, throwing grenades and shooting, officials reported.

Security forces cordoned off the area as they evacuated more than 80 people from the hospital.

Interior ministry spokesman said that it was unclear why the hospital in Dashti Barchi, a 100-bed facility, was targeted – an attack the spokesperson called an “act against humanity and a war crime”. 

Following the Tuesday attack on a medical facility in Afghanistan, Juan-Pedro Schaerer, Head of delegation in Afghanistan for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), told International Insider “Sadly, Afghanistan has suffered many attacks targeting patients, medical workers and health facilities. This latest attack is deeply shocking and represents an outright violation of international humanitarian law.”

“In a time when the already stretched health system in Afghanistan is battling theCOVID-19 outbreak, this appalling attack not only has killed people seeking and providing health care, but it will also deprive the community of life-saving services in the future.”

Also on Tuesday, an attacker targeted in a suicide bombing in eastern Nangarhar province a funeral of a local pro-government militia commander.