BANGUI, Central African Republic, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- The United Nations said increasing numbers of people are fleeing their homes in Central Africa Republic amid an uptick in violence in the nation's capital.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said at least 10 people were killed in Bangui, the capital of CAR, in recent days. Thousands of other people were forced to flee their homes amid renewed violence.
UNHCR said even the most basic services in CAR are absent. It estimated the entire population of 4.6 million people, about half of them children, are in need of some form of humanitarian assistance.
"We urge the authorities to use all means to stop attacks against civilians, restore security and protect the population," UNHCR Deputy Director Liz Ahua said in a statement Thursday.
The rebel Seleka coalition toppled the government early this year. It's suspected of committing war crimes in the country, prompting the International Criminal Court to investigate the situation.
The UNHCR local U.N. staff members in Bangui were the target of recent attacks. It said incidents of arbitrary arrests, torture and other acts of violence in the capital have uprooted thousands of people in the last 10 days.
