Afghanistan: Médecins Sans Frontières treats victims of bomb blast in central Kunduz

The Médecins Sans Frontières surgical hospital in Kunduz is the only trauma centre of its kind in northern Afghanistan. It is equipped with an emergency room, two operating theatres, intensive care, as well as X-ray and laboratory facilities. There are separate male and female inpatient wards. © Olof Blomqvist/MSF

10 December 2011. Following a bomb blast in the capital of Kunduz province in northern Afghanistan today, Médecins Sans Frontières treated fourteen patients in the organization’s surgical hospital.

The explosion occurred close to a market in central Kunduz around noon today. Médecins Sans Frontières teams treated patients with blast-related injuries, including severe internal wounds, bleeding and burns.

“Patients started arriving at our hospital within five minutes of the blast. Two people were severely injured and needed immediate surgery, the rest of the patients were stabilised,” said Erwin Guillergan, Médecins Sans Frontières coordinator at the Kunduz surgical hospital.

Since August 2011, Médecins Sans Frontières has been running a surgical hospital in Kunduz that provides urgent surgical care and follow-up treatment for people wounded in the conflict, and those suffering from life-threatening injuries. Hundreds of patients have been treated in the hospital since it opened.

In all locations where Médecins Sans Frontières is working in Afghanistan, a strict no-weapons policy is implemented to ensure patient safety and security.

Médecins Sans Frontières teams also work in Ahmed Shah Baba Hospital in Kabul and Boost Hospital in Helmand province’s capital Lashkar Gah. In both locations, Médecins Sans Frontières provides free medical care, working in all wards of the hospitals. Médecins Sans Frontières plans to open a maternity hospital in Khost province in early 2012.

For its work in Afghanistan, Médecins Sans Frontières relies solely on private donations, and does not accept any government funding.