The United Nations (UN) has launched an appeal for $1.18 billion to cover Afghanistan's relief needs until the end of the year.
Mr Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN Secretary-General's special envoy to Afghanistan, appealed for the funds at a meeting of UN officials, non-governmental groups, Western donors and the interim administration in the capital Kabul.
UN officials said the appeal was separate from the $4.5 billion pledged by Western governments at a conference last month in Tokyo for Afghanistan's long-term reconstruction.
The UN said millions of Afghans would need emergency food supplies and humanitarian aid well into 2003 after four years of drought and two decades of war.
Mr Brahimi said the international community needed to act quickly to address the needs of the Afghan people to prevent the country falling back into the chaos and insecurity of the past.
"Afghans must see tangible change in their lives, and quickly," he said. "It is true that much hangs in the balance, and there is no room for complacency. Complete stability and security has still to be attained".