The report said the Iraqi government was failing to provide basic essentials such as water, sanitation, food, and shelter to up to eight million people.

70 percent of Iraq's 26.5m population are without adequate water supplies, compared to 50 percent prior to the invasion. Only 20 percent have access to effective sanitation.

Nearly 30 percent of children are malnourished, a sharp increase on the situation four years ago. Some 15 percent of Iraqis regularly cannot afford to eat.

The report also said 92 percent of Iraq's children suffered from learning problems.

It warned the continuing violence was masking a humanitarian crisis that had grown worse since the invasion in 2003.

It also found that four million Iraqis had been uprooted by the violence.

More than two million people have been displaced inside the country, while a further two million have fled to neighbouring countries, according to the report.

On Thursday, an international conference in Jordan pledged to help the refugees with their difficulties.

Oxfam has not operated in Iraq since 2003 for security reasons.