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UN crew member killed and two injured after helicopter came under fire on evacuation mission in South Sudan
Summary
The UN said a contracted aviation crew member, Sergey Pribdoko, was killed and two others injured when a UN helicopter came under fire while conducting an evacuation mission in Upper Nile; the mission and partners are intensifying de-escalation efforts with local actors.
The United Nations reported that an aviation crew member contracted to the UN peacekeeping mission, identified in the briefing as Sergey Pribdoko from Ukraine, was killed and two others were injured when a UN helicopter came under fire while undertaking an evacuation mission in Nasser in Upper Nile state.
The spokesperson said the mission and its partners—the reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)—are meeting with key political actors and signatory parties to address the fragile political and security situation and to urge upholding the peace agreement.
Why it matters: the death of UN-contracted personnel during a mission underscores risks to peacekeeping operations and to personnel carrying out evacuations and humanitarian tasks. The UN also expressed condolences and paid tribute to the crew members for their courage under fire.
UN officials said the mission is intensifying efforts, in coordination with international peace partners, to de-escalate tensions following clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and armed youth in Upper Nile and ongoing clashes in Western Equatoria state.
