#MosulOps: 'Modest number' of civilians fled in first week

"Modest" numbers of people have so far been displaced from Mosul, according to the UN's humanitarian office.

About 4,140 people have fled in the first week of the assault to liberate the city from Islamic State militants.

The number is only a fraction of the total expected to flee the fighting, in a battle touted to last anywhere between two months to more than a year.

"With the military offensive on Mosul still unfolding, UNHCR is so far seeing modest levels of displacement," said the agency's spokesman Adrian Edwards.

"Our focus remains on the intensive and continuing push for more protection and shelter support."

Iraqi forces pushed towards the city, which has been under militant control for two years, early on Monday.

An estimated 1.5 million people are believed to be in Mosul, with around 200,000 expected to try and escape.

According to UN data, so far 3,900 - 650 families - have fled Mosul and al-Hamdaniya districts.

They have been taken to a nearby reception centre in the village of al-Hood, Edwards said.

Around 240 people - 40 families - have been displaced from Makhmur district, to the east of the city, and have sought refuge at a reception centre at the Debaga camp nearby.

UNHCR has five camps ready to provide shelter for 60,000 people with a further six camps planned, accommodating a total of 120,000 people.

UNHCR has five camps ready to provide shelter for 60,000 people with a further six camps planned, accommodating a total of 120,000 people.

However, only 48 percent of the required $196.2 million to support the expected mass exodus of civilians has been provided.

With full funding, UNHCR would be able to provide shelter for 600,000 people, Edwards said.

He added 7,000 family tents will arrive in Iraq next week from warehouses in Dubai and Amman, but more donors were needed.

"Beyond shelter, UNHCR plans to meet the core relief needs - blankets mattresses, plastic sheeting, kitchen sets, hygiene sets and jerrycans - of the most vulnerable, as well as the winter needs of the vulnerable," Edwards said.

War-torn Syria has also seen an influx of Iraqi refugees, and capacity is being reinforced to receive 15,000 people at the al-Hol camp to the east of Hassakeh.

There are at least 3.3 million internally displaced Iraqis, according to figures from the UN, with up to 10 million civilians needing humanitarian assistance.