London, Feb 19: Doctors Without Borders called on Thursday for an independent investigation into airstrikes that killed at least 25 people at one of its hospitals in northern Syria this week.
Also known by its French acronym, MSF, the group said it believes the attack was likely carried out by Syrian and Russian forces as part of their push to win back Syria’s largest city, Aleppo.
The air attack that destroyed the hospital on Monday was part of a series of strikes that destroyed five medical facilities and two schools in rebel-held towns across the region, according to the UN. The attacks left more than 50 people dead.
The MSF facility in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib province, west of Aleppo, was struck repeatedly, killing nine medical personnel and 16 patients, according to MSF. Ten others were wounded in the assault that demolished the 30-bed facility.
“According to accounts from medical staff onsite, four missiles struck the hospital in an attack lasting about two minutes. Forty minutes later, after rescuers arrived, the site was bombed again,” said Dr. Joanne Liu, international president of the medical charity.
