M23 rebel group swept into Congolese city after a rapid advance in recent weeks

People living in Goma on the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s eastern border with Rwanda have spoken of their fear and acute hunger after the M23 rebel group swept into the city earlier this week after a rapid advance in recent weeks.

Judith Saima, a 28-year-old merchant, said: “We are very afraid. This situation feels hopeless.” In Goma, heavy fighting that cut the city off from the outside world and left bodies piling up in the streets only subsided two days ago.