A United Nations agency said on Wednesday that more than 10,000 Iraqis have fled their homes since the start of an operation to retake Mosul from Daesh terrorist group's grip.

The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement "Over 10,500 people are currently displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance". 

"Population movements are fluctuating as the front lines move, including people returning to their homes following improved security conditions in the immediate area," it said.

Humanitarian workers fear being overwhelmed by huge outflows when the civilians trapped in Mosul find a way out, in an emergency that could dwarf previous displacement crises in Iraq.

More than 3.3 million Iraqis have had to flee their homes due to conflict since the start of 2014, UN statics show.

Source: MENA