Sexual violence against children in eastern Congo has soared in recent weeks, UNICEF said Thursday, as disputes over land and mineral resources fuel fighting in the country.

The organization reported that health care facilities in the city of Goma and the surrounding areas had documented 170 cases of children having been raped in a single week, between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2.

The health facilities reported 572 cases of rape that week, compared with an average of 95 cases in the prior weeks, said Lianne Gutcher, UNICEF’s communication chief for Congo. She added that the violence was being perpetrated by “armed men” belonging to all parties in the conflict.

Aid group Save the Children reported similar trends of children being victimized across eastern Congo. The New York Times could not independently verify the numbers provided by UNICEF.

Rebels, said to be backed by Rwanda, have been seizing huge tracts of Congo at lightning speed. In a month, they have caused more than 500,000 people to flee.

— The New York Times