UN on Thursday said it would hold a ceremony on Saturday to honour eight peacekeepers onboard a Puma helicopter that crashed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DCR).

UN Spokesperson, Mr Stephane Dujarric told journalists in New York that their bodies had been recovered during an initial search and rescue that was launched by the peacekeeping operations.

Also read: DRC helicopter crash: UN recovers bodies of 8 peacekeepers

“Our colleagues at the peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) report that the site where the helicopter carrying eight of our peacekeeping colleagues crashed has been secured by the mission, and a preliminary investigation is underway.

“A ceremony to honour the fallen peacekeepers from Pakistan, the Republic of Serbia and the Russian Federation is planned for Saturday in Goma,’’ he said.

Earlier in a statement, he said the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, was deeply saddened about the tragic incident.

According to him, the Mission will establish and send a team that will work in cooperation with the Congolese Government.

“The Mission is also continuing to carry out reconnaissance in the area around Rutshuru to monitor the activities of armed groups and to do whatever it can to protect civilians.

“Efforts to support the Congolese army through information sharing, logistics and first aid for soldiers injured during the fighting continue.’

“The secretary-general is deeply concerned by the resurgence of M23 activities in the border area between the DRC close to Rwanda and Uganda, as well as the ongoing impact of violence involving armed groups on civilians.

“We, of course, send our condolences to all the families of our fallen colleagues, as well as to their friends and all our friends in the peacekeeping mission in the Congo,’’ Dujarric quoted Guterres as saying.

In addition, he said the secretary-general reiterated UN commitment to support the Congolese Government and people in their efforts to bring peace and stability to the eastern part of the country.