International Red Cross denies involvement in humanitarian aircraft attack in Congo

IANS April 5, 2025 291 views

A humanitarian aircraft was attacked in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, resulting in one fatality. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has explicitly denied any involvement with the specific chartered plane. Ugandan military spokesperson Chris Magezi confirmed the incident occurred near Kavumu Airport, which is currently controlled by the March 23 Movement armed group. The Ugandan government is pursuing diplomatic channels to understand the full circumstances of this tragic event.

"The organisation does not have any information about this incident" - ICRC Statement
Kampala, April 5: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has denied any connection to the humanitarian aircraft after militants fired at a humanitarian aircraft in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), killing one person.

Key Points

1

Militants attacked humanitarian aircraft near Kavumu Airport

2

One person killed during evacuation mission

3

Uganda investigating incident through diplomatic channels

4

March 23 Movement controls airport region

In a statement sent to Xinhua on Friday, the ICRC clarified that neither its aircraft nor its staff were involved in the chartered plane that came under attack as it approached Kavumu Airport in Bukavu, capital of South Kivu province, on March 27.

"The organisation does not have any information about this incident and is not in a position to comment on it," the committee said. "The ICRC continues its humanitarian work to protect and assist people affected by the armed conflict in the DRC, including those who have fled to neighboring countries."

The statement came after Chris Magezi, a Ugandan military spokesperson, said on Monday that the ICRC had contracted the Ocean Heights Aviation Training Center in Uganda to evacuate humanitarian staff trapped in the conflict in South Kivu province, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to Magezi, the involved aircraft is a Cessna Caravan flying from Uganda's Entebbe International Airport to Kavumu Airport.

"Reports suggest that one person on the aircraft was shot and succumbed to the injuries. The government of Uganda, through relevant diplomatic channels, is following up on this matter," Magezi said, denying any involvement of the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces in the incident.

Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Spokesperson Vianney Luggya said that Uganda could not confirm the aircraft's origin.

"We haven't heard from our counterparts on the other side [DRC]. I am yet to confirm that the aircraft originated from Uganda," Luggya told Xinhua over the phone.

In February, the March 23 Movement armed group seized control of Kavumu Airport, located about 30 km from Bukavu. The airport serves as a key hub for humanitarian and military flights.

Reader Comments

M
Marcus T.
This is heartbreaking. Humanitarian workers risk their lives every day to help others. The situation in DRC has been unstable for too long 😔
A
Aisha K.
Why is there so much confusion about who was involved? First they say it's ICRC, then they deny it. This lack of clear information puts more lives at risk.
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Jamal P.
Prayers for the victim's family. These conflicts need international attention - the world can't keep ignoring what's happening in Congo.
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Sophie L.
I appreciate the Red Cross clarifying their position quickly. Transparency is crucial in these situations. Hope they can continue their important work safely 🙏
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Trevor M.
The article could provide more context about why the airport was attacked. Is this part of a larger pattern of targeting humanitarian operations in the region?
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Nia B.
So tragic. These aid workers are heroes. The world needs to do more to protect them - they're just trying to help people in desperate situations.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Congo Conflict International Red Cross Humanitarian Crisis Uganda South Kivu
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