Safari Hangi walked for hours with a baby strapped to his back and six young children in tow trying to find safety as apparent gains by rebel forces in eastern Congo sparked a fresh exodus of people towards the provincial capital Goma.
The family was among hundreds of Congolese fleeing on Friday through the town of Sake, which they no longer saw as secure after the M23 rebel group appeared to gain control of the frontline hotspot of Mushaki around 15 km (9 miles) to the west.
"If it weren't for this war, we would be in our village without any problems, farming and getting on with daily chores," said Hangi, 42, as the family paused to rest on the stony road.
