The United Nations is seeking to raise more than $600m (£434m) in aid for Afghanistan, warning the country is facing a major humanitarian crisis, APA reports citing BBC.
It is calling for international support at a conference in Geneva, following the Taliban's takeover last month.
"After decades of war, suffering and insecurity, they [Afghans] face perhaps their most perilous hour," Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
The UN says the $600m target will bring "vital relief" to millions.
In his opening remarks, Mr Guterres called the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan a "looming catastrophe", and said the people of Afghanistan were in desperate need of a lifeline.
"Today one in three Afghans do not know where their next meal will come from, the poverty rate is spiralling and basic public services are close to collapse. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes and at the same time Afghanistan faces a severe drought - the second to hit the country in four years. Many people could run out of food by the end of this month just as winter approaches," he warned.
The UN has appealed to the Taliban to give aid workers unimpeded access.
Even before the Islamist militants retook control of Afghanistan in August, more than 550,000 people had been forced to flee their homes this year due to fighting.
That means an estimated 3.5 million people are currently internally displaced within the country. Afghans have also had to deal with a severe drought as well as food shortages.
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