South Korea pledged an additional $500,000 to help refugees in and near strife-torn Libya, the foreign ministry said Thursday.

The aid will bring Seoul's total assistance for Libyan refugees to $1 million, including $500,000 provided in March. The new assistance will be used via the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the ministry said.

Thousands of people have fled their homes to escape bloody fighting between anti-government protesters and supporters of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

As of Tuesday, more than 550,000 people have found refuge in neighboring countries, while some 35,000 others have been internally displaced, the ministry said.

South Korea has banned its nationals from traveling to or staying in Libya in the wake of the violence. Those who wish to visit or stay there are required to apply for special permission. 

Hundreds of South Koreans, many of them construction workers, have already fled the country, leaving only a few dozen behind.

(Yonhap News)