Kunduz: Heavy Fighting Triggers ‘Rapidly Deteriorating’ Situation in City

Fierce fighting between government forces and Taliban rebels initiated a “rapidly deteriorating” humanitarian situation in the northern city of Kunduz. As a result, this condition effected a shortage of food, water and medical care for thousands of the city’s population.

For four straight days, following the infiltration of militants of the city’s defenses, vicious firefights raged along the streets. US and Afghan special forces operators and airstrikes supported the defending government security troops in maintaining their hold on Kunduz.

The government continually declared that they still control the city. However, residents report that the constant heavy skirmishes compelled thousands of people to escape.

In a statement, Dominic Parker, head of the U.N.’s humanitarian coordination office said that residents were becoming desperate. He remarked, “Many families were unable to bring their possessions with them and are in a precarious position.” He added, “We have had reports that some families have been forced to sleep out in the open and many have few food supplies.”

Upwards of 10,000 people left their homes and those who stayed now face a dwindling amount of necessary supplies. Furthermore, those who fled include a good portion of the primary public hospital’s general staff. One of the hospital’s doctors, Marzia Yaftali Salaam said several rockets and gun fire hit the medical facility.

Hospital overwhelmed by casualties

Three days of fighting saw the 200 bed hospital swamped by 210 casualties, combatants and civilians alike, Salaam said.

“Many of the wounded had to be carried to clinics in surrounding districts and private clinics in the city,” the doctor said. “If the situation remains the same, we may be forced to halt our services.”

On Wednesday, almost 50 wounded were delivered to the hospital during a break in the fighting. This all occurred within only a few hours, said the head of the public health department in Kunduz, Hameed Alam.

U.S. military command HQ in Kabul announced that the joint Afghan-American troops are “defeating Taliban attempts to take Kunduz.” They also mentioned that reinforcements were en-route and commandos were annihilating “isolated pockets” of militants.

“There is fighting in every street and the situation is critical,” said Ismail Kawasi, a spokesman for the Public Health Ministry in Kabul.

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