Medical aid resumed to thousands trapped by Congo violence

Goma: Distribution of crucial medical aid to 40,000 people trapped behind a rapidly changing front line in eastern Congo resumed after last week's territory grab by the rebels, an aid group said on Sunday.

London-based medical aid group Merlin took a truckload of basic medication to 20 clinics around the towns of Kanyabayonga and Kirumba for the first time since they were captured during a rebel advance.

Local human rights groups accuse Laurent Nkunda's rebel forces of raping and murdering civilians and abducting young men to fight against the government, accusations he denies.

It is the first delivery of medical aid to the area since Nkunda captured the two towns from the government 10 days ago in a swath of territory that allowed him to link up his positions.

"We're really pleased that we've gotten here," said Merlin spokeswoman Louise Orton. "We haven't been here for a week and a half. We know the health centres really need the drugs."

A quarter of a million people have been displaced since August, when the latest round of fighting between Nkunda's men and the government began.