Staff working with a Tearfund partner agency in the Democratic Republic of Congo's unstable eastern region are reporting a growing humanitarian crisis and evidence of torture.

HEAL Africa, which runs a hospital in the regional capital Goma, is one of the few humanitarian organisations still operating there as intense fighting between rebel and government forces has moved closer to the city.

"Food and access to water is a massive issue," said Lyn Lusi, of HEAL Africa.

In Goma itself, a degree of normality has returned to the city after last week's looting by the Congolese army which confined many people to their homes.

HEAL Africa's medical teams remain safe but have been treating civilian casualties, including victims of torture and banditry.

Lusi added, "We pray they will survive. Such cruelty is incomprehensible. It has nothing to do with war, it is banditry and terrorism."

In other rebel-controlled areas outside Goma, camps for the displaced have been broken up and people sent back to their villages by force. Lack of food and shelter is a major issue for them.

The rebels, led by Laurent Nkunda, have taken control of several towns in North Kivu province and have advanced to within a few miles of Goma itself.

Their assault has prompted 250,000 people to flee their homes, taking the total of displaced people in North Kivu to more than a million, leading Tearfund and other aid agencies to warn of an unfolding humanitarian disaster.

Despite the rebels declaring a ceasefire, which held over the weekend, tension remains high and getting aid to civilians is difficult.

Tearfund and partner agencies are scaling up a response to this escalation in DRC's crisis. A security corridor is urgently needed to enable agencies to operate and for humanitarian aid to get through to the thousands of displaced people.