(AURN News) — At least 14 United Nations peacekeepers were killed and many others wounded when M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, attacked U.N. positions in eastern Congo, the latest casualties in an escalating conflict that has forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.

The attacks took place between January 23 and 24, when M23 rebels fired on positions held by the U.N. stabilization mission known as MONUSCO. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warned that attacks against U.N. personnel may constitute a war crime and called for an immediate investigation.

He also demanded M23 cease hostilities and withdraw from occupied areas, while also calling on Rwandan defense forces to end their support of M23 and pull out of Congolese territory.

The violence has triggered a humanitarian emergency in the region, with civilians facing dire conditions. "A major surge in violence in the eastern region of DRC has led to hundreds of thousands of people fleeing multiple active conflict zones," said Shelley Thakral, head of communications for the World Food Program in Congo. Thakral shared the updates during a special U.N. briefing on Tuesday.

"WFP's priority is keeping staff and their dependents safe," Thakral said. "Only critical WFP staff remain in the area, and once the security situation improves, we can resume our emergency assistance and operations."

The situation continues to deteriorate, according to Thakral. "There are growing protection concerns as hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced in and around Goma," she said. "Many are exposed to gender-based violence and with limited access to food, safe clean water and income, the risks facing the populations hour by hour, day by day will only increase in these volatile conditions."

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