Amid tragic escalation of violence in Congo, Bishop Willy Ngumbi Ngengele of Goma has assured the people of the church's closeness and compassion, as rebels entered the eastern city of Goma, forcing thousands to flee and triggering wave of looting and deaths.

Speaking to BBC Newshour while being locked down in a UN bunker in the city, the deputy head of the UN force, Vivian van de Perre, said the M23 rebels had "established" themselves in Goma, but were still facing "pockets of resistance".

The capture of the city has cut off the supply of goods to North Kivu, an emerging market

Goma is a lucrative hub because of its niche to valuable deposits of gold, coltan and tin which are minerals essential in the global supply chain for electronics and industrial manufacturing.

The M23 rebel group has declared the key city of Goma under its control, signalling a big blow to the Congolese army.

GOMA : Clashes in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s besieged city of Goma have killed at least 17 people and wounded nearly 370, hospital sources said yesterday, as the Congolese military fought to hold off M23 forces backed by the Rwandan army.

The latest fighting has intensified a humanitarian crisis, displacing more than 400,000 people since the start of the year, and raised fears of sparking a regional war, the U.N. has warned.

According to reports, the Romanian government and the US intervened to ensure the safe passage of the mercenaries.

An armed group backed by Rwandan troops took control of the airport in the besieged DR Congo city of Goma on Tuesday, a security source said, dealing a major blow to Congolese forces and putting the regional capital on the brink of falling .

Nairobi. As an East African bloc urged an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwandan-backed M23 rebels who seized the city of Goma extended their advance on Wednesday, and Congo said it planned a campaign to recover lost territory.

Rwanda-backed rebels who have captured eastern Congo’s largest city say they plan to take their rebellion to the capital and seek to gain political power.