Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

French UNICEF Staff Member Murdered in Drone Strike in Eastern DR Congo


(MENAFN) A French national employed by UNICEF in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo lost her life after a drone struck a residential building in Goma, as reported by sources.

The deceased has been identified as Karine Buisset, who worked with UNICEF in the country.

French President Emmanuel Macron conveyed his condolences to Buisset’s family, friends, and colleagues through a post on X. “I call for respect for humanitarian law and for the personnel who are on the ground and who are committed to saving lives,” he stated.

According to reports, the drone attack hit a sizable two-story home in a neighborhood frequently inhabited by expatriates and humanitarian workers.

UNICEF’s Executive Director Catherine Russell voiced her anger over the incident on X. “All of us at UNICEF are devastated and outraged by the killing of our colleague Karine Buisset in a reported drone attack in Goma, DRC,” she said. “Civilians, including aid workers, must never be targeted,” Russell added, offering condolences to Buisset’s loved ones and colleagues.

A statement from the United Nations mission in Congo (MONUSCO) noted that interim head Bruno Lemarquis condemned the surge in violence that claimed the lives of Buisset and two other civilians while also causing property damage. “I condemn in the strongest terms the use of weapons, including armed drones that endanger civilian populations and United Nations personnel. This escalation of violence is deeply concerning,” Lemarquis said.

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