Goma — Amidst stories of terror and suffering from people fleeing fighting in the North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Unicef correspondent Sarah Crowe heard an inspiring account of compassion.

Many of the newly-displaced walked for days to get to safe camps in Muganga outside Goma. The start of the rainy season has left many exposed to the elements, forced to shape bush and branches into makeshift homes.

Although she was pregnant, 16-year-old Pascaline and her family were forced to flee their home town of Sake. With nothing but the clothes on their backs, she and ten other members of her family headed on foot to Goma.

As tropical rains poured down, Pascaline went into labour. With the help of her family, she arrived at a health clinic where she gave birth to a healthy baby girl she named Nadine.

Yet only hours after giving birth, Pascaline and her family had to seek shelter. Josephine Ndalemwa, 33, took pity on the family and opened her home to them.

"I saw them searching for shelter at night in the rain. The young mother and her tiny baby were completely soaked through. The baby's umbilical cord had not yet been cut," said Ms. Ndalemwa. "I felt really sorry for them and took them in."

Ms. Ndalemwa is one of many people in North Kivu who have opened their hearts and their homes to strangers. She now has 17 people living with her and her family.

Excerpted from a report written for Unicef