GENEVA (AP) — A rising tide of civilians fleeing Syria's violence is hitting four neighboring countries where almost 150,000 are being helped in camps run by the U.N. refugee agency and its partners, officials said Friday.

That figure counts only Syrians who have registered or are in the process of registering as refugees. Officials acknowledge the real number of Syrian refugees is likely above 200,000 since tens of thousands are believed to have not yet registered with authorities.

In late June, U.N. agencies estimated they would need $193 million to help 185,000 refugees from Syria by the end of 2012.