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,

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.

The U.N. human rights chief said on Friday that he was deeply disturbed by the escalating crisis in eastern Congo, urging all those with influence to help halt the violence and warning of a risk that it spreads beyond the country's borders.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urged “all those with influence” to move quickly to end the deadly violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and stop it from exploding into a regional war.