EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, has issued the following statement: "I am deeply shocked to learn about the death of at least nine staff members of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in the bombing of a hospital run by MSF in the Afghan city of Kunduz earlier today.
My heartfelt condolences and thoughts go out to the families and colleagues of all the victims and I am following with concern reports of significant additional casualties.
Afghan children, women and men suffer the devastating humanitarian consequences of over three decades of war and conflict. MSF and other humanitarian organisations are carrying out essential life-saving work in Afghanistan in very difficult conditions.
I call on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and ensure that health care facilities and humanitarian workers are protected."
