Injured peacekeeping soldiers return home from South Sudan

Chen Ying, Chinese peacekeeper in South Sudan, was carried down a medical rescue plane in Beijing, capital of China, July 17, 2016. The two seriously injured peacekeepers, Chen Ying and Huo Yahui, were airlifted to Beijing aboard a specialist medical rescue plane sent by the Chinese military for specialized treatment and operations. Two Chinese peacekeepers under the UN Mission in South Sudan were killed and four others injured on last Sunday evening as the fighting between government and anti-government forces continued. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Two Chinese UN peacekeepers who were seriously injured in South Sudan landed in Beijing midday Sunday onboard a medical rescue plane.

Chen Ying and Huo Yahui have been admitted to an army hospital, military sources said.

Two peacekeepers were killed and five injured on the evening of July 10 after a mortar shell hit their armored vehicle during fighting between two army factions in Juba, capital of South Sudan.

Chen and Huo were seriously injured, while the others sustained mild injuries.

The other peacekeepers are receiving treatment in Kampala, capital of Uganda.

It was the first time the People's Liberation Army sent a medical rescue aircraft to rescue injured UN peacekeepers. The aircraft, with three crew and a small team of medical workers, can transport two seriously ill patients and has the equipment and manpower to treat serious cases during the flight.

The remains of Li Lei and Yang Shupeng, who were killed in the incident, were airlifted to Uganda on Friday. They are expected to be returned to China early next week.