More than half a million people have fled fighting between the military and Taliban in north-west Pakistan and registered with authorities in the last 10 days, the UN refugee agency said Tuesday.
"As of late yesterday (Monday), a total of 501,496 displaced people from the new influx have now been formally registered by authorities, with UNHCR's help, since May 2," the UNHCR said in a statement.
The refugees are trying to escape the military bombardments of extremists who are dug into three districts in north-west Pakistan. The number has jumped from 360,000 people who had registered late Sunday. UNHCR spokeswoman Ariane Rummery told AFP the lifting of a curfew in Swat district on Sunday likely led to the leap in those fleeing.