500,000 in Kenya will need help and rations - UN

Geneva: Around 500,000 people caught up in post-election violence in Kenya would need humanitarian assistance including vital food rations, the United Nations estimated on Friday.

It plans to seek funds next week to help more than a quarter of a million Kenyans forced to flee their homes, but said its appeal to donors could be expanded.

A UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) spokeswoman said, "We estimate that around 500,000 people will need aid in coming weeks and months."

She added, "We fear malnutrition will rapidly worsen if insecurity and the lack of access to food and assistance persists."