Kurdish regions 'struggling' to receive displaced Iraqis

An international aid agency says Kurdish regions in northern Iraq are struggling to cope with a huge inflow of people fleeing from the conflict in other parts of the country.

UN officials visit Iraqi refugees at Erbil city. (Source: AAP)

It's estimated that half a million people have fled or are fleeing parts of Iraq, including its second largest city Mosul, after ISIS fighters took control of the city.

Militants have seized dozens of foreigners, including 40 Indians and more than 40 Turks, since launching a swift offensive last week and capturing a swathe of territory across four Iraqi provinces.

Save the Children said although spared the heaviest force of violence from ISIS fighters, the Kurdistan region is already dealing with an influx of refugees from neighbouring Syria.

Spokesman Karl Schembri spoke to SBS Radio from Erbil, the largest city in the Kurdish area.

“The situation is one of chaos and confusion for hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who have been forced to flee,” he said.

"[People] are confused, they don't know how long [the conflict] is going to go on."

The immediate priorities for charities have been water, sanitation, food and shelter.

"We keep getting new people fleeing. It's not a stable situation in terms of numbers," said Mr Schembri.