The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, has warned that a major confrontation in Somalia between Islamic militants and troops loyal to the transitional government might lead to a catastrophic humanitarian situation.
There has been intense fighting in the past month between warlords and the militia controlled by an alliance of Islamic courts.
Islamists have captured the Somali capital, Mogadishu, and other strategic areas. The fighting is threatening the stability of the interim government.
Mr Guterres said the international community had been slow to support the interim government.
