United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Tuesday that a humanitarian catastrophe looms in Afghanistan. 

"On the day Afghanistan enters a new phase, I want to express my grave concern at the deepening humanitarian and economic crisis in the country and the threat of basic services collapsing completely," he said after the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

Today, almost half of the population of Afghanistan – 18 million people – need humanitarian assistance to survive. One in three Afghans does not know where their next meal will come from. More than half of all children under 5 are expected to become acutely malnourished next year. People are losing access to basic goods and services every day, he said in a statement.

"A humanitarian catastrophe looms," Guterres said.

Now more than ever, Afghan children, women and men need the support and solidarity of the international community. The humanitarian system's commitment to staying and delivering will not waver, he said. 

"Already this year, we have delivered aid to 8 million people. In the last fortnight, we delivered food to 80,000 people and relief packages to thousands of displaced families. Yesterday we airlifted 12.5 metric tonnes of medical supplies into the country." 

Amid a severe drought and with harsh winter conditions on the horizon, extra food, shelter and health supplies must be urgently fast-tracked into the country, he said. 

Guterres called on all parties to facilitate safe and unimpeded humanitarian access for life-saving and life-sustaining supplies, as well as for all humanitarian workers. 

Next week, the UN will release details of the most immediate humanitarian needs and funding requirements over the next four months in a flash appeal for Afghanistan. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths is coordinating the entire UN system in the preparation of the appeal, he said. 

"I urge all member states to dig deep for the people of Afghanistan in their darkest hour of need. I urge them to provide timely, flexible and comprehensive funding. I urge them to help ensure humanitarian workers have the funding, access and legal safeguards they need to stay and deliver," the UN chief said.  

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