The United Nations declared in the past few hours that it has introduced a new helicopter in the fleet of the World Food Program (WFP). It will operate in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It is a Mil Mi-8Mtv1 aircraft with an orange livery, which will be used in security missions, supporting humanitarian operations, which take place in one of the most restless African regions.

"If the helicopter you see up there is orange, then you must know that it is a vehicle of the World Food Programme), which is carrying out a flight with humanitarian workers, to help the most vulnerable people who need assistance in emergencies. The Our work is always guided by the fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence", said Peter Musoko, WFP country director in the RDC.

The UN decision is the latest in a series of initiatives to scale up assistance to millions of people in need of life-saving humanitarian support. The violent ethnic clashes on an economic basis have in fact caused a massive displacement. There are thousands of families living in refugee camps around the city of Goma and over 1.1 million needy people are living in the provinces of North Kivu, Ituri, South Kivu.

In February 2023, the United Nations suspended humanitarian flights across large parts of the country's east after one of its helicopters was attacked. Unidentified militants reportedly fired at a United Nations helicopter "10 minutes" from Goma in North Kivu province.