The Caritas Confederation of 162 Catholic aid agencies is appealing for $2.7 million to help those driven from their homes by violence that has swept through Kenya after December's general election.

Clashes across the country have left over 650 people dead, injured thousands more and seen 255,000 flee their homes. Many houses have been burnt down or looted.

Some 180,000 people require immediate humanitarian aid in the northern Rift Valley alone, and estimates suggest 250,000 homeless people will need help within the next three months.

Caritas Kenya's Emergency Coordinator Stephen Kituku said: "The majority of people don't have enough food or shelter and many are sleeping in churches or police stations. There is also steady rain which is making conditions worse. Many of those affected are women and children.

"We call on all political parties to work together to create stability in the region, and to create the conditions under which people are ensured proper access to food, water and medical help. These conditions would also enable those people still with houses to return home."

The Caritas appeal aims to help 30,000 people in Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western provinces, and will include helping people access food and clean water, especially pregnant women and people with HIV.

The funds will also go towards providing temporary shelter and items such as sleeping mats, blankets and clothing, and distributing soap and sanitary items for women.

There are additional plans to provide counselling to adults and children and help in mediation between communities.

The Catholic Church and Caritas members have already carried out various relief work prior to this appeal, and were the first to provide help in many areas.

Caritas United States (CRS), Caritas Scotland (SCIAF), Caritas England & Wales (CAFOD) and Caritas Ireland (Trocaire) have provided support including food, blankets, mosquito nets, cooking utensils and plastic sheeting to almost 60,000 people, in Bungoma, Eldoret, Kericho, Mombasa, Nairobi, Kitale and Nakuru.

SCIAF sent an emergency grant of £20,000 to provide food, shelter and clean water to help 2,000 people who have fled violence in a Kenyan slum and taken refuge in the grounds of an HIV and Aids project run by Catholic nuns.

The money will also help 150 women and up to 500 children leave the compound and join family in secure rural areas once it is safe for them to travel. The appeal for help came from Greenock born Sister Placida McCann, whose Live With Hope Project in the town of Kericho is supported by SCIAF.

CRS is also providing water and sanitation in Eldoret.

Kenya's Catholic bishops have added their voices to calls for peace and further dialogue.

A statement from the Kenya Episcopal Conference said: "We wish to express our support of the ongoing mediation efforts. We add our voice to the call of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI to our leaders to seek dialogue.

"We believe that these talks will help the truth to come out about the contested election results because it is on this truth on which justice shall be built.

"We continue to urge all our Christians and all Kenyans of good will, to continue praying for peace and pleading for God's mercy on us all, and on our country."

The Catholic Church held a National Day of Prayer on 20 January.