The UN refugee agency says it is alarmed by a surge of deadly inter-communal violence which has displaced thousands of people in the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
At least 140 people have been killed since July around Kwamouth town in Mai Ndombe province.
The United Nations High Commissioner for refugees says 27,000 people mostly women and children have been displaced by the violence.
Some have sought refuge in forests having abandoned their farms and granaries.
More than 2,500 have fled across the border to Congo-Brazzaville.END.