A humanitarian crisis is emerging in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as Rwanda backed M23 rebels continue to capture strategic cities and towns.

More than 7,000 people have been killed in fighting in the eastern part of the country since last month, Prime Minister Judith Suminwa has said, with a significant number of civilians among the dead.

Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Switzerland, Ms Suminwa warned that “the security situation in eastern DRC has reached alarming levels”.

About 3,000 deaths were reported in Goma, the capital of the eastern DRC’s North Kivu province.

Since January, the M23 rebel group has captured swaths of the eastern DRC, including the key cities of Goma and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province.

The group’s rapid offensive has sparked concern from world leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who warned the that the fighting could draw other nations into a regional conflict.

M23 have accused the government of not living up to a peace accord made on March 23, 2009 (which is also where the group got its name from), which ended a previous revolt by the Tutsis.

Dissatisfied ethnic Tutsis make up most of the M23, which launched its current attack on 2022.

While this may look like a rebellion, many observers say it is a push by Rwanda to gain political influence over the Democratic Republic of Congo.

M23 controls territory in the east of the country, including the mining region of Rubaya which has rich deposits of coltan, a mineral used in the production of smartphones. It’s estimated M23 gets $800,000 a month through a production tax on the region.

Rwanda is involved because it borders the M23 controlled area of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Observers say that Rwandan troops have been operating alongside the rebels of M23, which is in complete violation of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s sovereignty.

Goma is a key regional hub for humanitarian efforts and the control the M23 have over it puts at risk the lives of millions of citizens.

On 26 January, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres made a rare call for Rwanda to “cease support to the M23 and withdraw from DRC territory”.

Also, UK Foreign Minister David Lammy warned Rwandan President Paul Kagame that $US1 billion in aid was “under threat”, while Germany has cancelled talks with Rwanda on “further development cooperation”.

As the International Rescue Committee has reported that crimes against humanity are soaring, while the healthcare system is overwhelmed by disease and violence.

As M23 are moving south to expand their territorial claims, displacement is on the rise.

The UN has accused the group of summary executions and that the rebels of raping and burning alive female inmates in a prison in Goma.

The conflict has killed about six million people, more than 700,000 have been displaced, adding to the three million who fled their homes last year.