London

UNICEF has issued an urgent warning that hundreds of thousands of malnourished children in Iraq may not survive the war.

"Malnourished children, unimmunized children, children who are displaced from their homes – all these children are at very high risk," UNICEF director Carol Bellamy said on Wednesday.

"We delivered food for more than 400,000 malnourished children," she said "But there are more than 1 million malnourished children in Iraq. We immunized virtually every child under age five against measles. But we did not have time to reach the 6-to-12-year-olds who missed measles immunization when they were younger.

"We did a lot, but we had hoped to do more."

UN internationals withdrew from Iraq on Tuesday, leaving relief work in the hands of its 160 national staff.

"The children of Iraq remain extremely vulnerable because of widespread and chronic malnutrition, bad water and disease,' said UNICEF Representative for Iraq, Carel De Rooy.

De Rooy also emphasized the long-term impact that conflict has on children.

"We know from long experience how damaging war is for children's emotional well-being, their sense of confidence and trust – we're very concerned about these longer-term issues, as well as their immediate safety."

UNICEF delivered 1,000 tons of high-protein biscuits and milk across the country.

Four million children were vaccinated against polio in February, and half a million children under five were immunized against measles.

"Children will die in this war. That's a fact," said Bellamy.

"The question is how many children we can protect – that has got to be a priority for all of us now."