Afghanistan: What humanitarian aid is getting in?

There is growing concern at the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, with eight million people at risk of starvation this winter, according to UK aid agencies.

Many countries have suspended or significantly cut funding to Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August.

And aid organisations are launching a public appeal for donations to help alleviate the crisis.

About 80% of the former Afghan government's budget came from international development aid.

And this government support has now been mostly suspended.

But humanitarian aid has largely continued to flow.

And the US has consistently been the largest donor, followed by the European Union - although some countries in the EU, such as Germany, have provided additional funding.

And several countries - including neighbouring Pakistan and India - have directed food and medical supplies through aid agencies.

But funding remains a challenge, according to the UNOCHA, which estimates a further $4.5bn is needed for the coming year.

"The humanitarian response cannot sustainably fill the massive gaps that have been left by the wider withdrawal of international support," Vicki Aken, of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Afghanistan, says.

As many as 23 million people, most of the country's population, are facing acute food shortages over the winter months.

"The need is widespread," Ms Aken says.

"It would be difficult to say any province is not in need."

According to the UNOCHA, between September and November:

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has also helped transporting supplies, including items to improve tent installation, to keep displaced Afghans warm in the winter months.

But humanitarian organisations say more of these supplies and services are needed.

"Whatever we provide is just a drop in the ocean," Ingy Sedky, from the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), says.

And 60% of health clinics assessed by the ICRC lack the capacity to deliver nutrition programmes Afghans need.

Most aid continues to be sent by road - through Afghanistan's borders with Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.

Despite restrictions on the movement of people across the country's borders, the UNOCHA says they have remained largely open to the flow of humanitarian aid.

Most commercial flights to Kabul remain suspended - but aid organisations and governments have also been able to use air routes to send some emergency supplies.

Some food aid is also being sourced locally, the WFP says.

But major challenges remain in distributing aid within Afghanistan.

Conditions remain "volatile and hard to predict due to sporadic violence that might erupt", the IRC in Afghanistan says.

And the collapse of the country's banking system in August meant "access to cash was extremely challenging".

But now, with the onset of winter - when areas will be snowed in, making road and air access impossible - aid organisations are focusing on providing food and shelter to displaced Afghans.