The United Nations says humanitarian assistance is urgently needed in Rwanda for more an estimated six-hundred and thirty thousand people who have been displaced in the north-west.

In recent weeks there have been large-scale movements of people in the Gisenyi and Ruhengeri areas, where the government is trying to separate civilians from rebels waging a guerrilla war from bases in the hills and forests.

Most of the displaced are in camps and communal centres.

The UN has warned that they face serious health and nutritional problems.

It's expected that a formal appeal will be launched in the next ten days.