As well as two babies, at least 12 mothers and healthcare workers were killed
KABUL, May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has condemned a militant attack on a maternity ward in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Two babies and 12 mothers and nurses were killed when several gunmen stormed the hospital on Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, in the eastern province of Nangarhar, a bombing at a funeral killed at least 26 people.
Pompeo said: “Any attack on innocents is unforgiveable, but to attack infants and women in labour… is an act of sheer evil.”
“Terrorists who attack mourners lining up for prayer at a funeral are only seeking to tear apart the bonds that hold families and communities together, but they will never succeed.”
He added: “During the holy month of Ramadan and amidst the threat of Covid-19, these dual attacks are particularly appalling.”
In the wake of the attacks, President Ashraf Ghani said he was ordering the resumption of offensive operations against the Taliban and other groups.
He accused the militants of ignoring repeated calls for a reduction in violence.
A maternity ward in the hospital is run by the international medical charity Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) and some of those working there are foreigners.
It is still not clear who carried out the attack at the Dasht-e-Barchi hospital, and the Taliban have denied any involvement.
The Daesh group said it was behind the attack on a police commander’s funeral in Nangarhar, in the east of the country.
According to survivors, thousands of people had gathered in Nangarhar province for a local police commander’s funeral, and the bomb detonated about half-way through. Ataullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the governor, said 68 people were injured.
A member of the provincial council was among the at least 24 killed.
The two Tuesday’s attacks were widely condemned by countries around the world and human rights groups, with Amnesty International saying: “The unconscionable war crimes in Afghanistan today… must awaken the world to the horrors civilians continue to face.”
On Twitter, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “I’m horrified by the appalling terrorist attacks in Afghanistan Tuesday – including on a maternity hospital. Targeting mothers, their newborns and medical staff is despicable.”
Meanwhile, in northern Balkh province, at least 10 people were killed and many others injured in an air strike by US forces, reports said. Residents and the Taliban claimed the victims were all civilians, but the Afghan Defence Ministry said all those killed were militants. — NNN-AGENCIES
