The United Nations refugee agency has said thousands of refugees from fighting in the Congo Republic are arriving in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

A UNHCR statement said that about seven-hundred-and-fifty refugees a day are crossing the border and arriving in the Bas-Congo province southwest of Kinshasa.

The agency said many of the refugees -- especially children -- are suffering from malnutrition.

The refugees are leaving the troubled Pool region, in the south of the Congo Republic, where opposition guerillas opposed to the president Denis Sassou-Nguesso have stepped up attacks against the government in recent months.