The United Nations is convening an aid conference in Geneva on Monday in an effort to raise more than US$600 million (RM2.285 billion) for Afghanistan, warning of a humanitarian crisis there following the Taliban takeover.

Even before the Taliban's seizure of Kabul last month, half the population - or 18 million people - have been dependent on aid. That figure looks set to increase due to drought and shortages of cash and food, UN officials and aid groups warned...