U.N. children’s agency warns the toll may be significantly higher, as M23 rebels continue their advance.

The U.N. children’s fund is accusing armed men, likely on both sides of the conflict in eastern Congo, of raping scores of children over the past weeks as rebels expand their footprint and push government forces out.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday issued a stark warning over escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where hundreds of civilians have been killed and tens of thousands displaced as M23 rebels continue to attack and seize control of towns and villages.

Rape and other violence against children in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has soared to unprecedented levels, the head of the United Nations children's agency warned Thursday. "In North and South Kivu provinces,

Palestinian children were killed in the West bank since the start of the year alone, including seven killed following the launch of a large-scale operation by Israel in the north of the territory on Jan 19.

In the North and South Kivu provinces, we are receiving horrific reports of grave violations against children by parties to the conflict,’ says UN agency’s executive director

UNICEF's statement highlights reports of horrific abuses, with armed men, allegedly from both the M23 rebels and government forces, committing atrocities.