(VOVworld) - The United Nations Refugee Agency released a new report on Monday, saying that about 200 thousand people were forced to flee their homes in Aleppo, Syria’s second largest city, over the past 2 weeks. The refugees haven’t crossed any international border.

They have scattered to many rural areas within the country, making it difficult for humanitarian aid to reach them. Fighting has intensified since the beginning of last week when government forces launched a large-scale counter attack on opposition fighters in the city. The UN says it is concerned about the people exposed to shelling from tanks and other heavy weapons in Aleppo.