U.N.: Syrian exodus reaches 1 million March 6, 2013 -- Updated 0718 GMT (1518 HKT) "Syria is spiraling towards full-scale disaster," a U.N. official says More than 400,000 refugees have fled since the beginning of this year (CNN) -- The number of Syrians who fled the country since the civil war began almost two years ago reached 1 million on Wednesday, the U.N. refugee agency said. That number represents about 5% of Syria's total population, with an average of almost 1,400 refugees spilling across the border daily. "With a million people in flight, millions more displaced internally, and thousands of people continuing to cross the border every day, Syria is spiraling towards full-scale disaster," U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said. This tragedy has to be stopped. The pace of exodus has spiked dramatically in recent months. More than 400,000 have become refugees since the beginning of this year. Most fled to Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. Many arrive traumatized, without possessions, and without lost members of their families, the U.N. agency said. About half the refugees are children, the majority of whom are under age 11.