At least 700 people have been killed in the ongoing battles between government forces and rebels in the city of Goma, located in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo since Sunday.

Axar.az reports that this information was shared by the official spokesperson of the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric.

“The World Health Organization and its partners conducted an assessment from January 26 to 30. It has been determined that 700 people have died, and 2,800 people have been injured,” Dujarric stated.

He added that these numbers may increase.

It is worth noting that Goma is the administrative capital of North Kivu province, which has a population of 2 million.

The conflict in eastern DR Congo dates back to the 1990s but has rapidly escalated in recent weeks.

M23, which is made up of ethnic Tutsis, say they are fighting for minority rights, while DR Congo's government says the Rwanda-backed rebels are seeking control of the eastern region's vast mineral wealth.