Many arrived in Sake, a town just west of Goma from which hundreds have already fled over the past year.
Elisabeth Rebecca was driven from her home last week.
"There was a lot of gunfire at home. The M23 had arrived, burning the houses. They made us give them all the money. Some of us even lost our children, there were many dead and wounded. When they entered a house, they took everything, killed people and took away livestock."
In Goma, an area already plagued with militia activity, M23 rebels staged a major offensive in March 2022 -
sparking a conflict that has endured military interventions and mediation efforts by East African regional leaders that brokered a repeatedly violated ceasefire last year.
Civilians have borne the brunt of the violence, with many killed in bombings and reprisal attacks.
Tens of thousands have fled M23 advances into villages and towns, straining local infrastructure and humanitarian teams in relatively safer areas.
The sound of bombing and gunfire rings out daily in both Sake and Goma, residents and Reuters reporters say.
Congo's government this week promised that everything was in place to make sure Goma did not fall into M23 hands.
