Fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes in just one week, according to the United Nations.
The violence erupted after M23 rebels seized control of Masisi, a strategic town in the mineral-rich region.
The clashes between the Congolese army and the rebels displaced an estimated 102,000 people between January 1 and 3, local reports say.
Rwanda’s foreign ministry claims the areas taken by M23 forces were previously occupied by Hutu militias linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Relative calm has since returned to Masisi, allowing some displaced families to return.
However, humanitarian groups warn that the influx of displaced people may worsen the already dire situation, with over 600,000 displaced as of November 2024.
Medical charity Doctors Without Borders treated 75 people at two hospitals in the area between Friday and Monday, while hundreds of civilians sought refuge in the health facilities for increased protection.
