Thousands of Palestinians are taking advantage of a lull in fighting between the Lebanese army and Islamist militants to flee a refugee camp in northern Lebanon.

About 15,000 civilians - half of Nahr al-Bared's population - have left the camp, which is near the city of Tripoli.

The Nahr al-Bared camp has seen heavy fighting since Lebanese soldiers came under attack after arresting bank robbery suspects on Sunday.

Refugees say conditions inside the camp are desperate, with no food, water or power and no medical treatment for the many wounded people.

People have been leaving the camp by any means they can: by foot, truck or windowless cars.

Lebanon is home to more than 350,000 Palestinian refugees. Many fled or were forced from their original homes when Israel was created in 1948.

Many others were born in Lebanon and have grown up in the refugee camps.

People are fleeing either to Tripoli or to another nearby refugee camp. There are plans for schools to be set aside to shelter some of the refugees.