Concern over Colombian refugees

Many Colombians sought asylum in Ecuador over the weekend

Fighting has driven more than 2,000 people from their homes along Colombia's border with Ecuador since last month, the United Nations reports.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees expressed "deep concern" about the humanitarian situation along the border between the two states.

Colombia's 40-year conflict has seen many peasants and indigenous people being displaced.

Tens of thousands of civilians are also known to have died.

Left-wing rebels have battled state forces as well as right-wing paramilitaries.

Some of them were badly injured and are receiving medical assistance. One asylum seeker died of wounds Jennifer Pagonis UNHCR

The UNHCR spokesperson, Jennifer Pagonis, said that more than 850 of the 2,000 Colombians who left their homes since last month are known to have crossed into Ecuador.

It was the result of an upsurge in fighting between armed groups in the departments of Putumayo and Narino, according to the UN agency.

Only over the weekend, at least 600 Colombians sought asylum in the northern Ecuadorian town of San Lorenzo. It was the single largest influx so far this year and hundreds could be following, the UNHCR warned.

"Some of them were badly injured and are receiving medical assistance. One asylum-seeker died of wounds," Ms Pagonis told a news conference.

Offensives

The UN estimates that the total number of Colombian refugees in Ecuador could be as high as 250,000.

"Many who flee do not register with the UNHCR and often cross back to their homeland when they feel it is again safe to do so," Ms Pagonis said.

Fewer than 11,000 displaced Colombians have been recognised as refugees in Ecuadorian territory.

The Colombian military, backed by the US, has launched a series of offensives in the south of the country aimed at dislodging rebels from their jungle strongholds.

Marxist guerrillas have responded by concentrating their forces in the southern provinces along the Ecuadorian border, where - our correspondent says - they sow drugs, attack infrastructure and drive from their homes any who oppose them.