UN says 45,000 flee Gambia amid political turmoil

GENEVA (Reuters) - Political turmoil in Gambia has driven about 45,000 people, mainly children, to flee into Senegal since Jan. 1, the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said on Friday, citing figures from the Senegalese government. "The next few days will be critical and more people may leave the country if the current situation is not resolved peacefully soon," UNHCR said in a statement. Senegalese authorities had prepared aid for 100,000 arrivals, it said. (Reporting by Tom Miles; Editing by Gareth Jones)