Two seriously injured Chinese peacekeepers airlifted to Beijing for operations

Two Chinese UN peacekeepers seriously injured during the recent fighting in South Sudan were on Saturday afternoon airlifted to Beijing for specialized treatment and operations.

Chen Ying and Huo Yahui were flown back home aboard a specialized medical rescue plane sent by the Chinese military which arrived on Friday.

"The government of China decided to send a specialized medical plane to receive our two seriously injured peacekeepers. Today (Saturday) we came here to see them off and wish them good luck," said Zhao Yali, Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, while overseeing the see-off moment at Entebbe International Airport, 40 kilometers south of the capital, Kampala.

The two other soldiers Wu Le and Yao Daoxiang who were injured in the fighting between government troops of President Salva Kiir and forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar in the capital Juba are on recovery at a UN hospital in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

The remains of Corporal Li Lei, 22, and Master Sergeant Yang Shupeng, 33 who were killed in the incident were on Friday airlifted to Uganda and expected to be returned back home early next week.

The peacekeepers were killed and injured on Sunday evening after a mortal shell hit the armored vehicle as the fighting between the two army factions continued in Juba.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Su Guanghui, acting director of the Peacekeeping Affairs Office at the Chinese Defense Ministry, other Chinese military officers and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials on Saturday morning arrived in Juba to handle the relevant aftermath of the attack and killings. Endit