UN confirms drone attack in eastern Congo (DRC) kills 1 staff member

Xinhua News Agency, Kinshasa, March 11 (Reporter Shi Yu) The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) confirmed on social media on the 11th that a drone attack occurred in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, resulting in the death of a UNICEF staff member.

According to a statement released by the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the 11th, armed conflict in Goma escalated that day, involving drone strikes, which resulted in the deaths of one UN staff member and two civilians.

The Congolese rebel group "M23 Movement" claimed that the attack was a drone strike launched by the Congolese government forces. The Congolese government issued a statement on the evening of the 11th, expressing "deep sorrow" over the casualties caused by the incident and stated that the related events are still under investigation.

French President Macron stated on social media that a French national humanitarian worker from UNICEF was killed in Goma, and he expressed support and condolences to the victim's family, friends, and colleagues, calling on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and the humanitarian workers conducting rescue operations in the area.

Since January 2025, tensions in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo have escalated sharply, with the "M23 Movement" continuously launching offensives in North Kivu Province, South Kivu Province, and other areas, resulting in numerous civilian casualties and displacements.