UN evacuates fourth Chinese peacekeeper injured in South Sudan to Uganda

Critically injured Chinese peacekeeper Chen Ying (C) is carried on a stretcher by fellow Chinese peacekeepers as Chinese ambassador to Uganda Zhao Yali (L) looks on after Chen was evacuated from Juba, South Sudan, upon arrival at the Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, 14 July 2016. [Photo/IC]

ENTEBBE, Uganda - UN on Thursday evacuated its fourth injured Chinese peacekeeper and an Ethiopian peacekeeper who sustained serious injuries in the recent fighting between two South Sudan rival army factions in the capital, from Juba to Uganda for further specialized treatment.

Chen Ying and Birhan Gabrekidan who were among the eight injured peacekeepers under the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in the fighting between government troops of President Salva Kiir and forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar in Juba were airlifted to Entebbe International airport and evacuated to Nakasero Hospital in the capital, Kampala, a UN Level three Hospital for further treatment.

Rosa Malango, UN Resident Coordinator in Uganda told Xinhua that her organization had to secure a specialized plane to airlift the two seriously wounded peacekeepers on Sunday after a armoured vehicle travelling on duty around UN compound in Juba was hit by a mortar shell.

"Their condition was very fragile. But now they are in better hands. They will get the best treatment and will recover,"said Malango.

Maj. Gen. Su Guanghui, Acting Director of the Peacekeeping Affairs Office of the Chinese Defense Ministry who arrived in the East African country on Thursday with his delegation, dispatched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in preparation for bringing back the remains of the two Chinese peacekeepers killed, paid a courtesy visit to the four injured Chinese soldiers at Nakasero Hospital.