None of Zawadi Sifa's seven children have known life without fear and the constant threat of violence. Her story mirrors that of thousands of other families displaced by violence in eastern Congo, where Rwanda-backed rebels last month seized the key city of Goma,

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have seized control of a mining town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's South Kivu province, eight sources said on Wednesday, in an apparent violation of a unilateral ceasefire they declared this week.

The rebels continued advances in eastern Congo despite their own announcement of a cease-fire. The U.N. secretary-general called for them to lay down their guns and agree to mediation.