In pictures: Plight of the refugees

The United Nations refugee agency says more than 3,500 Afghan refugees have crossed the border into Pakistan in the largest one-day influx since the US bombing campaign began.

The UNHCR estimates that 1.5m Afghans could become displaced in the wake of the military campaign, on top of the estimated 5m already living as refugees.

Recent reports say most of the refugees fleeing Afghanistan are women and children

The luckier ones were able to leave with their belongings

Hungry Afghan refugee children beg for bread on the outskirts of Islamabad in Pakistan

Aid agencies say their appeals for donations have not met the response they were hoping for

Iran hosts 2.5 million refugees, of whom some 5,000 live in mud houses in the Niatak camp

Refugees within Afghanistan have fled to areas held by the opposition Northern Alliance