Nearly 3,000 people have been killed in the city of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the United Nations, after it was captured by rebels following days of fierce fighting with the Congolese army.

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels captured the mining town of Nyabibwe in eastern Congo’s South Kivu province, violating a ceasefire they declared earlier this week, according to NBC News. The rebels now advance toward Bukavu, raising fears of further conflict after seizing the city of Goma last week.

The Rwanda-backed rebels who captured a major city in eastern Congo have sought to reassure its residents about their safety

The Rwanda-backed rebels who seized eastern Congo's key city of Goma announced a unilateral ceasefire in the region Monday for humanitarian reasons, following calls for a safe corridor for aid and hundreds of thousands of displaced people.