The United Nations refugee agency says 60,000 Somalis have fled their homes over the past week because of fighting on the Somalia-Kenya border.
An agency spokesperson said Tuesday that at least 10 people have been killed in clashes between al-Shabab militants and pro-government forces in the town of Bula Hawo. Earlier reports had put the death toll at more than 25.
The agency says most of those displaced by the violence have fled to neighboring villages or crossed the border into Kenya. It says most of the 40,000 displaced within Somalia are living under trees, with no shelter, food or water.
The U.N. says there are now more than 1.5 million displaced people in Somalia and 614,000 Somali refugees in neighboring countries.
Somalia has experienced nearly two decades of violence and lawlessness since the fall of the last stable central government.
Islamist militants and pro-government forces fight almost daily in the capital, Mogadishu, and clash frequently in other regions as well.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.