ISLAMABAD: Around 200,000 people have abandoned their homes in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal area, where the military is pressing an offensive against Taliban militants, an army spokesman said Monday.

'As of today, 26,165 families have been registered,' Colonel Waseem Shahid, spokesman for the army's special support group, told AFP.

He said the army uses a working average of eight members to each family.

'The cricket stadium in Dera Ismail Khan has been converted into a hub of registration and IDPs are being  facilitated in registration,' he added.

The Red Cross warned last week that relief workers were being kept out of South Waziristan and that the civilian toll is believed to be mounting.

The United Nations said that half the people were displaced during the past two weeks. The military was Monday pressing the offensive for a 10th day.

Cash assistance of 5,000 rupees (60 dollars) will be given to each displaced family every month as non-food support, officials have said.