A United Nations report paints a grim picture of life in Iraq for two million children, but says an improving security outlook offers the opportunity to provide much-needed help.

A girl stands in an alley in a poverty-stricken area of Baghdad's Shia enclave of Sadr City, Iraq, on Nov. 24.
(Karim Kadim/Associated Press)

Released Friday by the United Nations children's agency (UNICEF), the report says roughly two million Iraqi children face daily threats of poor nutrition, disease and lack of schooling.

Children are also the victims of violence, frequently caught in the crossfire of fighting, said the report, called Little Respite for Iraq's Children in 2007.

About 1,350 children were detained by authorities in 2007, "many for alleged security violations" while only 28 per cent of 17-year-olds took their school-leaving exams this year, it said.

The UN estimates 75,000 Iraqi children are living in temporary shelters or camps.

"Iraqi children are paying far too high a price," Roger Wright, UNICEF's special representative for Iraq said in a statement.

The agency said it believes an improving security situation in the country could offer aid groups a chance to help the children.

While UNICEF has "been providing as much assistance as possible, a new window of opportunity is opening. We must act now," Wright said.

"Meeting the needs of Iraq's children in 2008 depends, to a great extent, on sufficient financial resources being made available," UNICEF said. "Children can and should be the priority for international investment in Iraq."

UNICEF spokesperson Veronique Taveau told a news briefing in Geneva that the agency received $40 million toward its $144-million appeal to help immunize millions of Iraqi children against polio, measles, mumps and rubella.

"Iraqi children are the foundation for their country's recovery … We continue to owe them our very best in 2008 and beyond," Wright said.