UN: Two-thirds of Afghans need humanitarian aid

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations' top envoy for Afghanistan warned on Wednesday that 28 million Afghan people, accounting for two-thirds of the country's population, will need lifesaving humanitarian assistance this year.

The humanitarian need will cost $4.62 billion, the single-largest country appeal ever, Roza Otunbayeva, the UN secretary-general's special representative for Afghanistan, told a Security Council meeting.

Almost half of the Afghan population — 20 million people — are experiencing crisis levels of food insecurity, she said, adding that 6 million people are one step away from famine-like conditions.