COVID-19: Two UN Peacekeepers Die Of Virus

The United Nations has announced the death of two of its peacekeepers in Mali in connection to the coronavirus pandemic.

These two deaths, out of the 100,000 troops deployed on 15 various missions across the globe, are the first that have been linked to the virus.

Speaking on the deaths was the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, who said, “Unfortunately, I also want to say that yesterday and today two of our military colleagues have passed away due to COVID-19."

One of the fatalities was from El Savador, while the other was a Cambodian national, both of whom were "members of MINUSMA,” a UN peacekeeping mission in Mali.

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A total of 137 cases have been confirmed in the peacekeeping missions of the UN, all including police officers, soldiers, civilians, of which 53 recoveries have been recorded, with two fatalities.

The hardest-hit UN peacekeeping mission is the MINUSMA, recording 90 coronavirus cases, two fatalities and 43 recoveries.

Following MINUSMA, is MONUSCO, peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with 21 coronavirus cases and three recoveries.