Kigali: Some 240 women, girls and babies have now been confirmed by the United Nations as having been gang raped last month by the Rwandan FDLR rebels and Congolese militias – with officials saying the victims could be more.

MONUSCO – the peacekeeping force, facing severe criticism for not intervening to protect the victims when it had a base a few kilometers away from the town of Luvungi in the Walikare area says more victims have been coming forward.  

The aid agency International Medical Corps which uncovered the rapes which happened from July 30 - over four days, had previously reported some 179 victims.

The incident prompted an emergency session of the UN Security Council, and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has sent a senior envoy to find out what happened after rebels moved into Luvungi on 30 July, staying for four days.

The council also said peacekeepers in the area should have done more to protect local people from the Congolese Mai Mai and Rwandan FDLR armed groups.

The FDLR has, however, denied that its forces took part in the attack.

The peacekeepers say they were not told about the attacks until 10 days later, even though they have a base 20 miles (30km) away. They say local people may have been afraid of rebel reprisals or ashamed by the rapes.

The UN mission in DR Congo, known as Monusco - until recently the world's largest peacekeeping mission - says it has stepped up patrols in the area "to reassure the local population", reports the AFP news agency.

Some of the women report being abused by several men in front of their husbands and children.