The number of Syrians who have fled their conflict-riven homeland has hit one million since fighting broke out two years ago, the United Nation’s refugee agency has said.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees also warned that millions more are still displaced in Syria.

“With a million people in flight, millions more displaced internally, and thousands of people continuing to cross the border every day, Syria is spiralling towards full-scale disaster,” Antonio Guterres said in a statement.

The figure is based on reports from his agency’s field offices in neighbouring countries that have provided refuge for Syrians escaping the civil war.

The number of refugees has swelled dramatically this year, with most Syrians pouring into Lebanon (327,896), Jordan (316,863), Turkey (184,585), Iraq (105,326) and Egypt (32,405).

A further 33,244 have fled to Europe.

Around half the refugees are children; the majority under 11.

More than 400,000 people have become refugees since January 1. They often arrive in neighbouring countries “traumatised, without possessions and having lost members of their families,” Mr Guterres said.

He added: “We are doing everything we can to help, but the international humanitarian response capacity is dangerously stretched. This tragedy has to be stopped.”

Syria’s uprising began in March 2011 with protests against President Bashar Assad’s authoritarian rule. After the government cracked down on demonstrators, the opposition took up arms and the conflict turned into a full-blown civil war.

The UN estimates that more than 70,000 people have been killed, while the relentless violence has devastated many cities and forced Syrians to seek refuge abroad.

In December, the UN estimated that 1.1 million Syrian refugees would arrive in neighbouring countries by the end of June this year.

At that time its regional response plan was only 25% funded, but it is now in the process of adjusting it in light of the new figures.

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