UN official thanks S. Korea for helicopter donation to Kenya for peacekeeping operations

On Friday, a high-ranking United Nations official thanked South Korea for its recent donation of eight military helicopters to Kenya. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the U.N. under-secretary-general for peace operations, made this statement on social media following a ceremony where the helicopters were officially handed over to Kenyan authorities.

Lacroix expressed deep appreciation for the Republic of Korea's contribution, emphasizing that the donation significantly boosts the U.N.'s ability to maintain air mobility in peacekeeping missions. The helicopters, refurbished with assistance from the United States, were transferred to Kenya, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in supporting global peace efforts.

South Korea had previously committed to supplying these helicopters to U.N. peacekeeping operations across Africa during a peacekeeping ministerial meeting in Seoul in 2021. The United States also pledged to ensure the maintenance of the helicopters and facilitate their transportation to Kenya. After being decommissioned, the MD 500 Defender helicopters underwent extensive repairs and refurbishment in the United States over a period of about two years before arriving in Kenya last month.