EU Commissioner on Drones and Civilian Protection in Eastern DRC

EU Commissioner Lahbib said in a New York speech that drones are being used by multiple parties, including armed groups, in the conflict in eastern DRC and are hitting civilian areas. She said that less than three weeks after her February visit to Goma, a drone struck a residential building in Goma housing humanitarian workers and EU personnel, killing UNICEF humanitarian worker Karine Buisset. She stressed that international humanitarian law applies to drone warfare and called for the protection of civilians, humanitarian workers, hospitals, aid convoys and camps for displaced families.