The situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is growing increasingly dire as Rwandan-backed M23 rebels advance on the provincial capital Goma.
Congolese authorities have blocked access to the airport and cancelled flights, while the United Nations has instructed staff to shelter in place.
The rebels claimed on Sunday that they have closed the airspace over Goma.
This development comes as the three-year insurgency by the M23 rebel group has intensified in January, with the rebels seizing control of more territory than ever before.
The UN has warned that the violence could spill into a wider regional war.
The conflict has already taken a heavy toll, with four UN peacekeepers from Malawi and Uruguay killed in clashes, bringing the death toll among UN peacekeepers to six.
South Africa reported nine of its citizens killed in the fighting, including two from the UN mission in Congo.
Congo, the UN, and others accuse neighboring Rwanda of fueling the conflict with its own troops and weapons.
Rwanda denies this, but Congo’s army claims Rwandan snipers were responsible for the killing of North Kivu’s military governor on Friday.
As the situation continues to deteriorate, the UN Security Council will meet on Sunday to discuss the crisis.
Hundreds of displaced people have fled to Goma, and gunfire could be heard early on Sunday morning, leading to panic in some areas.
