The United Nations (UN) has revealed that at least three million Afghans are in urgent need of food and could face famine if they do not get help.

UN humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan Toby Lanzer said in Kabul that a dry spell mainly across northern and western Afghanistan has devastated crops, livestock and water supplies, forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.

The drought comes at a time when the country is already grappling with a 17-year conflict.

The UN is spearheading international efforts to reach 2.5 million of the three million people most in need of food by mid-December.