KINSHASA, Congo — A United Nations report published recently reveals that over 100,000 individuals have been forced to flee their homes in eastern Congo since the beginning of the year due to a new wave of rebel attacks.

The M23 rebel group launched a significant offensive, capturing the town of Masisi on Monday and instigating a substantial migration of residents. This surge of violence has enabled the rebels to seize two key towns in just under a week.

The recent wave of displacements compounds an already critical situation, as there are currently 2.8 million people displaced in the North Kivu province, equating to more than a third of the area’s population, according to UN estimates.

The M23, known as the March 23 Movement, is a rebel group predominantly made up of ethnic Tutsis who broke away from the Congolese army slightly more than ten years ago. They gained notoriety in 2012 when they captured Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, which borders Rwanda.

This group is just one among over 100 armed factions battling for control in the mineral-rich regions of eastern Congo that are near the Rwandan border. The ongoing conflict has contributed to what is considered one of the largest humanitarian crises globally, resulting in the displacement of more than 7 million individuals across the region.