NAIROBI, Kenya – The United Nations says four people were injured in the crash landing in Ethiopia of a helicopter en route to South Sudan for use by the U.N. World Food Program.
Contrary to initial reports from Ethiopia, U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq said there were no U.N. personnel on board.
He said the helicopter that crashed in the town of Debre Zeit, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) outside Addis Ababa, was one of two Russian MI-8 helicopters heading to South Sudan’s capital Juba from Djibouti for use by WFP in Jonglei, the scene of recent fighting. He said the helicopter was owned by Russian company PANH Helicopters.
Doctors Without Borders said Thursday that an estimated 100,000 displaced people who fled violence in Jonglei remain in “dire need” of access to emergency care.