UN peacekeeping helicopter crashes in Central Africa, 3 dead: UN Force

The UN peacekeeping helicopter Mi-24 crashed in the Central African Republic on September 28 killing three Senegalese UN peacekeeping crew members and injuring one. The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix tweeted confirming the crash of one of the helicopters of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic while it was having its emergency landing due to bad weather. 

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Crashed while giving air support

Air support was being given to a security operation by the chopper of the UN mission against the armed group in Nana-Mambere region, said Quoting Stephane, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General while speaking to foreign media. He said that the secretary-general Antonio Guterres and the United Nations have extended their condolences to the families of the deceased and the government of Senegal as well. In a separate view, the rebel forces said that their bases have been bombarded by the United Nations forces. 

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MINUSCA head says peacekeepers protecting people at the risk of their own lives

The head of the MINUSCA mission, Mankeur Ndiaye said that the incident is an example of the dangers the peacekeepers have to face while protecting the ones on the ground, even if it means getting their own lives at great risk. He also wrote on Twitter about the helicopter crash saying as this calls for action of implementation of the peace agreement in that region. He said the chopper was coming back from an operational mission for the MINUSCA at the time of the accident. The MINUSCA has about 13000 security officers who are helping the country's 5-year-old peacekeeping mission with the motive to have security, human rights support and political stability in the region. 

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(With ANI inputs)