On Sunday, the streets of Goma buzzed with motorcycles and were consumed by panic.

Asifiwe Iragi Rugesha tried to navigate her six children through the crowds of fellow dispaced people. They had fled bombing in Kibati that morning. But with M23 closing in on Goma, they had hardly fled to a place of safety.

Still, it was the only option, Ms. Rugesha said.

“There is nothing else to do,” she said. “If M23 comes to Goma, we will die.”