DR Congo's Goma in crisis: UN official

UNITED NATIONS — A UN official in occupied Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, said on Wednesday that the city is in a state of crisis as humanitarians fight the risk of epidemics, amid a new offensive launched by rebels in the eastern part of the country.

"In Goma, we remain under occupation; the situation is still highly volatile, with a persistent risk of escalation," said Vivian van de Perre, the UN secretary-general's deputy special representative, during a video linkup with reporters.

She said the M23 rebels and the Rwandan Defense Forces, or RDF, continue to consolidate their control over Goma and most of the territories of North Kivu Province that the armed group previously seized.