Inside the world's most dangerous city - genocide, extreme poverty and erupting volcanoes

In the wake of M23 militia groups, supported by Rwanda, cutting off Eastern Congo's capital Goma, crime rates involving robberies, shootings, extortion and incidents of rape have seen a significant increase.

Goma's escalating insecurity has followed the advancing Rwandan-supported M23 rebels. This advance has led to thousands of Congolese soldiers and irregular pro-government fighters, known as Wazalendo, being trapped within a 20-kilometre radius around the city.

The Tutsi-led group, M23, seized control of Goma in 2012, but were later removed. However, after years of inactivity, the rebel group revived its insurgency in late 2021.

The group rapidly seized vast territories in North Kivu, bordering Rwanda.

A February offensive resulted in the rebel group severing Goma's last remaining terrestrial supply route, running from the Rwandan border along Lake Kivu's shore.

Behind battle lines, unpaid armed men serving militias have resorted to robbery, extortion, and rape. These crimes are perpetrated both within the city bounds and in the anarchic tent cities outside, home to about 700,000 displaced individuals.

The escalating conflict between the M23 armed group and pro-government forces in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has driven thousands more people into Goma, the largest city in the east. This city, a crucial hub for humanitarian aid, is now surrounded by the rebels backed by Rwanda.

Previously home to around 1.5 million people, Goma has seen an influx of an additional 700,000 individuals over the past two years due to the ongoing conflict. This includes more than 200,000 who have arrived in recent weeks as the M23 continues to expand its control over an unprecedented amount of territory.

The city is under immense pressure, according to displaced people, local and international humanitarian workers, and Goma residents. They describe overwhelmed displacement camps, soaring food prices, and the looming fear of an M23 takeover.

Goma also lays claim to being one of our planet's most deadly places, due to the nearby active Nyiragongo Volcano and the lurking threat of a rare but fatal natural disaster.

This kind of catastrophic event can unleash lethal gases that could wipe out populations. Nearly one million people living within Lake Kivu basin are flanked by two potential slayers: a gas-filled lake and an ominous brewing volcano.

It once erupted in 1997, sending lava rushing at a horrifying speed of approximately 60 mph and despite the molten flow solidifying before reaching the heart of the city, hundreds still lost their lives.

Then, in 2002, 15 million cubic yards of lava spilt into downtown Goma, wiping out 14,000 homes and causing 350,000 citizens to flee in terror.

Italian volcanologist Dario Tedesco previously described Goma as "the most dangerous city in the world".