The ongoing violence in eastern Congo has led to the displacement of approximately six million people, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.

This violence is fueled by over 120 armed groups vying for power, land, and resources, resulting in widespread human rights violations.

Among these groups, the M23, primarily composed of ethnic Tutsis, poses a significant threat, having previously captured Goma in 2012 and now threatening the city again.

Congo has accused neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group and committing war crimes, a claim that Rwanda has denied.

The presence of armed men and an inadequate humanitarian response have been identified as contributing factors to the alarming rise in sexual violence in the region.

In the past year, Doctors Without Borders treated over 25,000 victims of sexual violence in Congo, marking the highest number recorded in the region.

Between January and May of this year alone, the charity reported treating over 17,000 victims of sexual assault in North Kivu province.

Most victims were treated in displacement camps near Goma, with an average of more than two cases being reported every hour.

According to program manager Christopher Mambula, two-thirds of the victims reported being assaulted at gunpoint.

Human Rights Watch has reported that both Rwandan and Congolese forces are involved in killings, rapes, and obstructing aid in these displacement camps.