The U.N. Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) unveiled the two repainted World Food Programme helicopters this week. Their colour is meant to avoid confusion with the white ones used by the U.N. peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, which have been attacked in the past.
But a civil society activist in the DRC city of Goma was skeptical.
"This change of colour does not change the basic problem, which is insecurity," Stewart Muhindo told Reuters via telephone.
"The fact that the humanitarian community is trying to stand out is proof that the United Nations system has failed in its peacekeeping mission," he said, reflecting widespread frustrations against MONUSCO that frequently spurs protests.
Insecurity has worsened in east Congo since a rebel group known as the M23 - one of many armed militias active in the region - launched a fresh offensive last year.
Humanitarian operations to help the thousands of civilians displaced by the fighting have been caught up in the fighting.
Eight peacekeepers were killed when a MONUSCO helicopter on a reconnaissance mission crashed in the midst of rebel fighting in March last year. The government blamed the M23, which they denied.
In February, another peacekeeper was killed when a helicopter operated by the mission came under fire while in mid-air.
