Over 500,000 people have been displaced in January alone due to intense fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner.

Axar.az, citing DW, reports that the humanitarian crisis worsened as Rwandan-backed M23 rebels seized large parts of Goma, the capital of North Kivu.

The UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) has called for urgent international intervention, warning that ongoing attacks are killing and displacing civilians. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Rwandan President Paul Kagame to implement an immediate ceasefire and respect Congo's sovereignty.

Goma, a key city bordering Rwanda, lies in a resource-rich region where M23 rebels have long fought for control. The conflict has contributed to an ongoing displacement crisis, with over 7 million people now displaced across the country, according to the EU.