Thirty-two Indian soldiers serving under the United Nations peace keeping mission in Congo received minor injuries on Tuesday in a road side blast, which claimed the life of an eight-year-old girl.
The blast occurred in the Congolese city of Goma late afternoon. Army sources in Delhi said the injured had been admitted to a nearby U.N. hospital. However, two of the soldiers would require surgery. “The blast occurred when the troops were going for physical training,” Army sources said.
The United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was established in November 1999 to plan for the observation of the ceasefire and disengagement of forces and to maintain liaison with all parties. The mandate was later expanded to the supervision of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
According to U.N. statistics, as on August 31, 2016, there were 22,016 uniformed personnel deployed under the Congo mission, and India had contributed 3,434 personnel including troops, military experts and police.
India is the second largest troop contributor to such missions as of August end, with 7,471 personnel deployed. This is next only to Ethiopia, which has contributed 8,326 personnel.
(With inputs from PTI)
