UN warns of consequences if Afghanistan aid delayed

Only a third of the funds urgently sought for Afghanistan by the United Nations have been disbursed, the UN refugees chief said yesterday, warning of a potential humanitarian catastrophe.

Filippo Grandi urged donor nations to honour their financial pledges swiftly, saying: "can you please concretely pledge support where it is immediately necessary".

"Pledges were made, so it's a matter of disbursing them because we need those resources quickly," Grandi, who visited Afghanistan after the August 15 takeover by the Taliban, told a news conference.