UN agency urges "immediate action" to protect civilians in Central African Repub

The UN Refugee Agency ( UNHCR) on Thursday urged authorities in the Central African Republic (CAR) to take "immediate action" to protect civilians from the country's political crisis which has forced thousands to flee their homes in the capital of Bangui, a UN spokesperson said.

"Over the past ten days, arbitrary arrests, detention, torture, extortion, armed robberies, physical violence, restriction of movement, lootings and attacks on civilians have displaced thousands of people," associate UN spokesman Farhan Haq said at a press briefing.

"By Thursday morning, an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 people, including many women and children, had taken refuge at Bangui International airport, blocking the runaway and forcing flights to be rerouted to Cameroon," said Haq.

The CAR has descended into crisis since the Seleka rebels launched offensive against the government and seized power in March, triggering waves of violence that seems to spin out of control of new leader Michel Djotodia.

The crisis has displaced 206,000 people in the CAR, and forced some 63,000 people to flee to neighboring countries, and affected the entire population of 4.6 million people, half of whom are children, according to the UNHCR.