THOUSANDS of people have fled renewed violence in the north of Myanmar as tensions escalate on the country’s volatile border with China.

The United Nations said that more than 4,000 people have been displaced in the last three weeks after fighting between government forces and separatist insurgents intensified.

Mark Cutts, head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said:  “We have received reports from local organisations saying that there are still many civilians who remain trapped in conflict-affected areas.