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“All humanitarian and peacekeeping agencies working in emergency situations, including Save the Children UK, must own up to the fact that they are vulnerable to this problem and tackle it head on.”

The reputation of UN peacekeepers has been tarnished in the past by cases of sexual abuse against women, notably in Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast and Haiti.

Accused of turning a blind eye for decades to cases of abuse by its peacekeepers, the world body recommended in 2005 that erring soldiers be punished, their salaries frozen and a fund set up to help any women or girls made pregnant.

The “zero tolerance” policy towards sexual misconduct includes a “non-fraternisation” rule barring them from sex with locals.

It was brought in after revelations in December 2004 that peacekeepers in DRC were involved in the sexual abuse of 13-year-old girls in exchange for eggs, milk or cash sums as low as one dollar.

In January 2007 the UN promised to investigate after an internal report by its children's aid organisation, Unicef, documented cases of sexual abuse by the 10,000 UN police, peacekeepers and staff from over 70 countries in southern Sudan.

In November last year, the UN said that more than 100 Sri Lankan soldiers were to be sent home over charges that they paid for sex while stationed in Haiti.

Publication of the findings comes amid two massive international aid efforts - for the victims of the Chinese earthquake and the cyclone in Burma

Nick Birnback, from the United Nations’ department of peacekeeping operations, said the details in the report were “absolutely appalling”.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The vast majority of UN peacekeepers all over the world ... serve with honour and courage in very difficult situations and don’t engage in this unacceptable behaviour.

“The question for us is figuring out ways to address those that do and ensure there is zero impunity and zero complacency when confronted with these types of appalling allegations.”

Andrew Mitchell, the Shadow International Development Secretary, said: “Any UN soldier or aid worker found guilty of abuse should be dismissed and held accountable by the full force of the law.”

Michael Moore, the Liberal Democrat international development spokesman, said that Britain should take the lead.

“The British Government should champion a global watchdog on this issue, and the United Nations must ensure that all peacekeepers and aid workers acting on its behalf are held to the highest moral standards," he said.

“All aid programmes and peacekeeping missions must have stringent procedures in place for dealing with allegations of abuse.”

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