A humanitarian crisis is looming after an estimated half a million people fled violence in Iraq.

Militants who stormed areas in northern and central Iraq claim they'll attack the capital Baghdad.

The group - called ISIS - seized cities, including Tikrit and Mosul, yesterday.  Iraq wants the United Nations Security Council to give it military aid to help in the fight against militants - but a vote on a state of emergency has been postponed.

Unicef Ireland says it's very concerned about the fate of those who've fled their homes in the scorching heat - among them a quarter of a million children.

Bernie Jameson reports.