UNICEF accused “armed men” of raping scores of children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been ravaged by conflict recently.

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.

Unprecedented sexual violence against children has been reported in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo as the Rwanda-backed M23 ramps up its offensive. View on euronews

The Rwandan-backed rebels' entry into Bukavu follows their capture of Goma, defying international calls for a ceasefire.

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels appeared on Friday to be closing in on eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's second-largest city, Bukavu, as they seized control of the nearby airport of Kavumu, prompting Congolese troops to withdraw in some areas.

European Union lawmakers called for a halt to financial assistance for Rwanda because of its support for the M23 rebel insurgency in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.

The European Parliament urged the European Union on Thursday to freeze direct budget support for Rwanda until it breaks links with Tutsi-led M23 rebels and allows humanitarian access to areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo where they advanced.

The European Parliament has called on the European Union (EU) to halt direct budgetary aid to Rwanda. This move comes as a result of Rwanda's alleged links with the M23 rebels and its restriction of humanitarian access to certain regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where these rebels have gained ground.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has asked the NBA, along with Formula 1 and numerous major European soccer clubs, including Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, to stop doing business with Rwanda as the conflict between the two countries deepens.