GENEVA, Switzerland (AP) -- The U.N. refugee agency said Friday it was
                 "extremely concerned" about the worsening situation of thousands of
                 Colombians who have fled their homes in recent weeks because of inte
                 nsifying conflict.

                 Women and children predominate among the new homeless, joining more than two
                 million other Colombians who have sought refuge since 1995, said Kris Janowski,
                 spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

                 "Most of these people find themselves under extremely dire conditions in a situation
                 of acute vulnerability after being forced out of their homes by threats from illegal
                 armed groups or by violent clashes between combatants," Janowski said.

                 UNHCR staffers find it difficult to help people, especially along the borders with
                 Venezuela and Ecuador, because of lack of security, he said.

                 "The border provinces of Narino, Norte de Santander and Choco have been
                 particularly affected, as well as Antioquia, but reports of large numbers of people
                 being uprooted by the fighting continue to be received from all over Colombia,"
                 Janowski said.

                 In recent weeks "there has been a dramatic increase in the number of violent
                 incidents, including killings and abductions, attributed to illegal armed groups from
                 Colombia in both Venezuela and Ecuador," he said.

                 "UNHCR is extremely concerned about the worsening humanitarian situation,"
                 Janowski said.

                 The agency appealed to all sides to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel
                 working on their behalf, he said.

                  Copyright 2002 The Associated Press.