( CNN ) -- France will send approximately 1,000 more troops to the Central African Republic , French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Tuesday in a radio interview . Speaking on Europe 1 radio , he said the mission would last about six months and would be coordinated with the United Nations and African Union . About 400 French troops are already in the Central African Republic , the French Defense Ministry said , where they are deployed to protect French nationals and help secure the airport in the capital , Bangui . France is a former colonial power in the Central African Republic . Former leader Gen. Francois Bozize fled the country in March of this year , after a coup led by rebel leader Michel Djotodia . A transitional government was put in place , headed by Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye , but the country continues to be wracked by unrest and new elections have yet to be held . In a piece published Monday by French newspaper Le Figaro , French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the troubled Central African Republic was facing its worst crisis yet . He highlighted the threat to peace posed by growing tensions between the country 's Muslims and Christians , which have already led to a number of deaths . 'Suffering beyond imagination ' U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson warned Monday that the situation in the country was deteriorating rapidly and called on the international community to act swiftly to turn it around . `` The population is enduring suffering beyond imagination , '' he told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council . `` As we see far too often , women and children are bearing the brunt . Human rights violations are mounting . The use of child soldiers is rising . Sexual violence is growing . `` There are widespread reports of looting , illegal checkpoints , extortion , illegal arrests and detentions , torture and summary executions . '' Eliasson also highlighted the worsening humanitarian situation in the country , saying that as much as a third of the population is in need of food , health care , clean water and shelter . He suggested that a U.N. peacekeeping force should eventually replace the current African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic , known as MISCA . That potential force could number about 6,000 troops and 1,700 police personnel , he said . In the meantime , however , he called for the international community to give its full backing to the efforts of the current mission . A new leadership team for the mission was announced Saturday , with retired Maj. Gen. Jean Marie Michel Mokoko of the Republic of Congo at its head . Humanitarian crisis . Adonia Ayebare , ambassador for the African Union 's permanent mission to the United Nations , warned Monday of `` disastrous '' humanitarian consequences , with hundreds of thousands of civilians either internally displaced or refugees in neighboring countries . He called on transitional authorities to `` fully assume their responsibilities , '' particularly the protection of civilians and the transition to an elected government . As many as one in 10 people have been forced from their homes since March , humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders said Tuesday . Recent clashes in the town of Bouca , in the northeast part of the country , have only added to the problem , the organization said . `` The fighting in Bouca is indicative of how horrific violence is engulfing the Central African Republic , '' said Sylvain Groulx , head of the group 's mission there . `` We are extremely concerned about the living conditions of the displaced , who are overcrowded in churches , mosques or schools , or living in the bush with no access to health care , food , or water , and are threatened by epidemics . Much more needs to be done , and it needs to be done now . '' CNN 's Lilia Blaise and Nana Karikari-apau contributed to this report .
NEW : Doctors Without Borders highlights plight of the many people displaced by violence . Mission is expected to last about six months , Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says . About 400 French troops are already deployed in the African nation . Comment: