Geneva - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned Thursday of an escalating humanitarian crisis in the North- West Frontier Province of Pakistan and said that up to half a million people have been displaced by the conflict.

The humanitarian organization said it could not longer reach the areas most affected by fighting owing to the volatile situation.

For now, the ICRC was trying to aid those fleeing the conflict. It said it had the capacity to provide the basic needs of 120,000 displaced people and health care for 30,000. It was also setting up treatment centres for those wounded in the conflict.

"Civilians displaced by the fighting have a right to receive assistance to cover their basic needs, such as food, water, shelter and medical care," Pascal Cuttat, the ICRC head of mission in Pakistan, said in a statement.

"Humanitarian organizations like the ICRC must be given safe and unimpeded access to the affected population," he added.

Fighting has flared up in recent days after the virtual collapse of a 3-month-old peace deal between the Taliban fighters and the regional government. (dpa)