The UN Secretary-General condemned the killing of UNICEF staff member Karine Buisset, who died in a drone strike on a building housing aid workers in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Addressing reporters in New York on Wednesday, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric described Buisset as a committed humanitarian who devoted herself to supporting children and families affected by conflict and crises.
“The UN and UNICEF extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues,” Dujarric added.
The attack, which occurred near Lake Kivu, also hit a private residence roughly 50 meters from the former home of ex-President Joseph Kabila Kabange, according to local residents and the M23 rebel group.
M23 blamed the Congolese government for the strike, though officials had not responded to requests for comment. The rebel group reported three fatalities, a figure that could not be independently verified.
Buisset, a French national, was inside the residence at the time of the attack.
Dujarric emphasized that “all parties must protect civilians and humanitarian personnel. Those providing life-saving aid must never be targeted.”
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Buisset is the second humanitarian worker killed in the DRC this year. Since January, at least 92 incidents involving aid personnel have been reported across the country.
In 2025, over 650 incidents were recorded, including the deaths of 13 humanitarian workers and injuries to 41 others across the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, Tanganyika, and Maniema.
Dujarric also noted that UN peacekeepers from MONUSCO responded immediately to provide emergency support and conduct an initial assessment of the strike.