, Dec. 5 -- UN humanitarian agencies expressed deep concern on Thursday over escalating armed violence affecting civilians in southeastern Central African Republic (CAR).

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that ambushes in the Mboki region over the past weekend killed several civilians and heightened intercommunal tensions. The attacks also led to the destruction of multiple homes and the displacement of around 1,000 people, many of whom sought refuge at a local Catholic church.

Mboki has experienced repeated clashes, and humanitarian access remains severely restricted due to insecurity and poor communications, OCHA noted. Last week, two staff members from a local NGO collaborating with the UN Pop...