(28 Jul 2012) STORYLINE:
Soldiers backed by United Nations helicopter gunships and armoured vehicles continued to battle with rebels on Saturday around a strategic army garrison near a mountain gorilla reserve in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Thousands of people continue to flee the 3-month-old rebellion allegedly backed by neighbouring Rwanda.
More than 260,000 civilians have been forced from their homes, according to UN agencies, some across the borders to Uganda and Rwanda, others toward the southern provincial capital of Goma.
In Kanyarucinya, 15 kilometres (9 miles) to the north of Goma, some five thousand people shelter in an informal refugee camp in the grounds of the village's Catholic primary school.
Most have arrived here in the past week from Kibumba and around Rutshuru, the town currently held by the rebels from the M23 rebel group.
Most fled bringing little more than they could carry on their backs.
Conditions in the camp are primitive and the sanitation facilities are inadequate for so many. Disease could break out easily in such circumstances, warn aid groups.
Food and shelter was the major concern for the displaced people at the camp.
Aid agencies such as the World Food Programme distributed high energy biscuits and clean drinking water to the people here, although no group has taken formal responsibility for caring for this camp yet.
Guy Aduya, head of the WFP in Goma said many people fled with nothing.
Some say it's not the first time that they've had to flee fighting in this unstable region, and discontent is growing at the situation.
Many blame Rwanda for allegedly sponsoring the rebels.
It's a view supported by a report by UN experts last month which accused Rwanda of helping create, arm and support the M23 rebel movement in violation of UN sanctions.
Several European nations have suspended their aid budgets to Rwanda following the contested allegations.
On Tuesday, the rebels came within 25 kilometres (16 miles) of Goma, battling soldiers at Kibumba and forcing into flight the thousands of people who have made Kibumba a centre for refugees from a 2009 rebellion.
The rebels are accused of numerous human rights abuses including rape and forcefully recruiting children into their ranks. Congolese soldiers also are accused of rape and widespread looting.
The insurgents are members of an earlier Rwandan-backed rebellion who were integrated into the Congolese army in 2010 and began deserting in April, demanding better implementation of a peace pact.

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