An extra 3,100 peacekeeping troops will be sent to Congo, the UN Security Council said today, even though rebels said they remained committed to a pullback from the front lines.
There are currently 17,000 peacekeepers in the central African nation - the world's largest UN peacekeeping mission - but they have been unable to stop the fighting.
The reinforcements come as urgent aid appeals for Congo are being made by aid agencies as the extent of the humanitarian crisis is revealed.
Rebels have withdrawn from some of their positions in the east to allow aid in.
But there are fears aid is still not reaching those vulnerable to rape, malnutrition and abduction.
Army advances are being fended off by rebel troops. Today, the army, pro-government Mai Mai militias, and Rwandan Hutu rebels attacked rebels in Katoro, a small village about 45 miles north of Goma.
Rebel spokesman Bertran Bisimwa said fighters overcame the attack and warned if the UN peacekeeping force "is not able to keep quiet in this area ... we'll go and attack these groups who are trying to take control of that area."
This could undermine UN hopes that the rebels' retreat could be one step towards brokering peace in Congo.
So far, more than 250,000 people have been forced to flee their homes because of fighting in recent weeks, adding to more than 1 million people already displaced.
The Disasters Emergency Committee has launched a Congo crisis appeal. Its chief executive, Brendan Gormley, said aid was getting through but the effort needed to be greatly increased.
"The start of the rainy season has meant people living in already desperate conditions are becoming ever more vulnerable," he said.
"We have got to do more and now, more than ever, we need the UK public to show their generosity."
Charles Badenoch, the chief executive of DEC member agency World Vision, said: "Children are being separated and orphaned by this intense conflict. Thousands of people are vulnerable to rape, malnutrition, abduction and disease. We urgently need your help to bring them relief, stability and hope."
The conflict had seen many people displaced for the second, third and even fourth time, the DEC said.
Aid workers say thousands of children are living in spontaneous settlement camps, where they are at increased risk of being physically and mentally abused.
World Vision estimates there are about 5,500 former child soldiers in the camps who are vulnerable to being forced to fight again by the militias.
Solange Nyamulisa of ActionAid said it was helping a group of Congolese women organise a demonstration at a refugee camp, calling for protection and an end to violence against women.
"Whilst UN peacekeepers are authorised under their mandate to use force to protect civilians, they need to be seen to be doing so, particularly around the protection of women and children," Nyamulisa said.
"UN mission forces should be providing 24-hour security at all refugee camps with enough troops deployed in enough strength to serve as deterrents."
Witnesses say the rebels, led by Laurent Nkunda, have moved back 25 miles (40km) on two fronts north of Goma.
The withdrawal comes after several weeks of fighting and talks last weekend with the UN envoy Olusegun Obasanjo.
The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, welcomed the rebel retreat and the opening of aid corridors.
In a statement, he called on all sides to observe the cessation of hostilities.
Donations can be made by visiting dec.org.uk or calling the DEC on 0370 60 60 900, or at banks and post offices.
The United Nations Security Council has announced that it intends to send up to 3,085 more peacekeeping troops to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite a commitment from rebel forces to reduce their fighting.

The UN stated that the troops will be deployed immediately, and kept in the Congo for at least the rest of 2008. 

Depending on the security situation in the country, the troops may be kept in the country past the end of this year.

The move was made as part of UN Security Council Resolution 1843, and was recommended by the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.

The resolution states that this “temporary increase in personnel aims at enabling  to reinforce its capacity to protect civilians, to reconfigure its structure and forces and to optimize their deployment.”
The UN Security Council chamber, which is located in New York 
The resolution also made some other comments in relation to the Congo. The resolution also aimed to work at “reiterating its condemnation of the resurgence of violence in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and demanding all parties to immediately respect a ceasefire.”

The document also welcomed “the appointment of former Nigerian President  by the Secretary-General as his Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region.