The city of Kabul was rattled by a horrific air strike on a rehabilitation center that resulted in the deaths of hundreds. The air strike struck the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital at approximately 9 PM local time on Monday, coinciding with the breaking of the daily fast for Ramadan.
Rescue operations are ongoing at the site, where the Taliban government estimates around 400 individuals have been killed, although this number has yet to be verified. Survivors recount the chaos as they attempted to flee the facility amidst the destruction.
Mohammad Shafee, a patient who managed to escape, recalled helping serve dinner when the blast occurred: I ran for safety. When I returned, I found most of our colleagues hit. Only five of us survived. Another survivor described it as 'doomsday' as flames engulfed the building.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that military engagements in the area may have led to the strike, which Pakistan has denied intentionally targeting the rehab facility. The incident has intensified the already heightened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with allegations from both sides complicating the narrative.
The Omid facility, initially known as Camp Phoenix, had a history as a military training base before being converted into a rehabilitation center. The Taliban's recent crackdown on drug addiction had turned the center into a temporary refuge for thousands of patients, far exceeding its intended capacity.
In the wake of the attack, many families are anxiously waiting for news about their loved ones as the tragic events unfold in Kabul.
