UN Helicopter Found Crashed in Democratic Congo... All Passengers Dead

[Asia Economy Reporter Jin-ho Kim] A UN helicopter that went missing in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was eventually found crashed. All eight passengers on board were confirmed dead.

According to major foreign media on the 30th, the crashed helicopter was discovered by a search team in wreckage form in Chanju village, southeast of Rutshuru area in North Kivu province, where fighting occurred between the rebel group 'M23' and the Congolese army. The deceased passengers included six Pakistanis, one Russian, and one Serbian, all members of the UN peacekeeping forces.

Earlier that day, they had been conducting a monitoring mission aboard a Puma reconnaissance helicopter to observe the movement of refugees affected by the fighting and to assist with humanitarian aid when contact was lost.

The Congolese army stated that the helicopter was shot down by the rebels, but the rebels denied this and instead claimed that the Congolese army was responsible. It has been reported that battles between the Congolese army and the M23 rebels have taken place around the Rutshuru area over the past several days.

Meanwhile, the UN expressed condolences to the governments and families of the peacekeeping forces and announced that it will investigate the cause of the accident.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.