The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) Monday collaborated with the World Food Programme (WFP) to jointly address the attack against a U.N. helicopter in North-Kivu province.
Claude Kalinga, the WFP’s spokesperson in the Democratic Republic of Congo, said flights between Goma and Bunia have been cancelled.
“Flights between the provincial capital Goma and eastern cities of Beni and Bunia have been suspended until further notice,” said Kalinga.
A statement released Sunday by UNHAS confirmed Friday’s attack.
“On Friday, February 24, a helicopter operated by UNHAS came under heavy fire about ten minutes outside of Goma as it returned from Walikale to Goma,” read a statement released by UNHAS.
The U.N. agency also said the helicopter was able to land in Goma and added that three crew members and 10 passengers were unharmed.
The global rights peacekeeping MONUSCO mission said one peacekeeper was killed in eastern DRC on Feb 5, when the helicopter came under fire while in mid-air.
