UN provides medical support to survivors after deadly plane crash in DR Congo

The United Nations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo today sent condolences to the Government and the people of the central African country and pledged to continue providing medical assistance to survivors of the plane crash in the eastern city of Kisangani on Friday that reportedly killed dozens of people.

“The United Nations also wishes to express its condolences to the families of those killed and injured, and to offer within available resources all possible support to the Congolese authorities,” the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC, known as MONUSCO said in a press release.

The mission said that its Bangladeshi and Belgian contingents provided emergency medical aid and helped to evacuate the injured to hospitals in the city.

The office of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) in the capital, Kinshasa, has been working directly with the country's health ministry to send additional medical personnel and equipment to Kisangani.

“The UN from its own very sad and recent experience of the crash of a MONUSCO plane understands all too well the logistical and psychological demands related to a disaster of this nature,” said Mr. Roger Meece, the Special Representative of the Secretary General in DRC and head of MONUSCO.

“In this context, the United Nations will continue to do all it can, with what it has, and as requested, to help the Congolese authorities deal with the immediate aftermath of this accident,” he added.

Media reports stated that the plane carrying 112 people crashed at Kisangani airport as it came in to land. About 50 of those on board are reported to have died.