According to an army statement, the helicopter was conducting reconnaissance for the U.N. peacekeeping operation in Congo with another helicopter. In order to coordinate humanitarian aid, the U.N. peacekeepers were on the helicopter assessing the movement of the communities that had been attacked.
According to the statement, the M23 rebel group attacked several villages, including Tchanzu and Runyonyi as well as Ndiza, Tchengerero and Ndiza.
Stephane Dujarric, U.N. spokesperson, said that the wreckage was discovered by a search-and-rescue operation and that no survivors were found. He said that the bodies of the eight men were taken to Goma in eastern Congo, which is the largest city.
Dujarric stated that he had sent his condolences to the families and governments of the six crewmembers from Pakistan as well as the two Russian military staff members and the two from Serbia. “An investigation is ongoing into the circumstances of this crash.”
Dujarric stated earlier that the helicopter was there in order to monitor fighting and asked for patience regarding the cause of the crash.
Pakistan’s military released a statement naming the six soldiers and officers on the helicopter. They stated that they had “embraced martyrdom.”
The statement stated that Pakistan has “always played a pivotal part as a responsible member of international community to help realize the ideals of global security and peace through” U.N. Peacekeeping missions.
As several armed groups vie for control over the country’s mineral-rich lands, Eastern Congo is vulnerable to insecurity. In the eastern half of Congo, militiamen fighting for control over natural resources and land killed six park rangers.
In 2012, the M23 rebels ruled large parts of eastern Congo including Goma, the provincial capital. In 2013, Congolese forces and United Nations forces drove the rebels from eastern Congo to Uganda and Rwanda.
Despite efforts to disarm it, the M23 rebels recently escalated their attacks in the area.
U.N. Special Representative to Congo Bintou Kita stated Tuesday to the U.N. Security Council that the security situation has “deteriorated despite military operation by the Congolese security forces and defense forces under state of siege.”
She said that civilian deaths have increased and displacements have increased mainly due to bloody reprisals from the Allied Democratic Forces rebels towards civilians living in the North Kivu or Ituri provinces.
She said that the M23 rebel group in North Kivu has seen an increase in activity over the past three months. Monday’s attack on civilians in Rutshuru was just one example. There is also new fighting in the three-border region near Bunagana.
Keita stated that in the three months prior to the helicopter crash, six humanitarian workers had been kidnapped, one of them was wounded, and four others were killed.
Given the current security situation, she said that both the United Nations (UN) and Congolese Armed Forces have failed to make an impact.
She said, “This is proof that only security operations can resolve conflicts.”
