Blast in eastern DR Congo leaves 32 Indian peacekeepers injured, one child killed: UN

Thirty-two Indian peacekeepers were injured and 1 local child was killed in an explosion in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday, according to UN Mission. According to reports, the Indian peacekeepers were out on a morning run in the western Goma neighbourhood of Keyshero.

Army officials in New Delhi said two of the 32 injured soldiers require surgery but are not critical. They said that none of the soldiers were seriously injured in the blast that happened at 0615 IST when the Indian troops were doing physical training. Sources said a girl, about eight-years-old, was killed in the blast. The peacekeepers were taken to a UN military hospital.

India has an impeccable record when it comes to making contributions for peacekeeping missions under the UN Flag in disturbed areas or regions in the world which are affected by internal conflict, civil war or armed rebellion by local militia or guerrilla outfits.

Read: India criticises UN Security Council for 'unimplementable' peacekeeping mandates 

India has been the largest troop contributor to UN missions since its inception. So far India has taken part in 43 peacekeeping missions with a total contribution exceeding 180,000 troops and a significant number of police personnel having been deployed.

As per the latest records, India has a total contribution of 7499 comprising of 899 policemen, 6507 troops and 65 military experts as on 31st August 2016.

Recently Indian Peacekeepers were lauded by the UN for their efforts in preventing a carnage in the South Sudan conflict which resulted in the death of two of its soldiers..

The Indian Army has a brigade of about 3,500 soldiers posted in Congo on UN peacekeeping duty. The injured soldiers belong to Indian Battalion 1.

The UN mission’s troops and police personnel are drawn from over 50 countries and was deployed in 1999.

United Nations Organisation Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or MONUSCO is a peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which was established by the United Nations Security Council to monitor the peace process in the country.