The US on Tuesday announced $308 million in additional humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan, offering new aid to the country as it edges towards a humanitarian crisis since the Taliban takeover nearly five months ago.

White House national security council spokesperson Emily Horne said that the new aid from the US Agency for International Development will flow through independent humanitarian organisations and will be used to provide shelter, health care, winterisation assistance, emergency food aid, water, sanitation and hygiene services.

Afghanistan’s long-troubled economy has been in a tailspin since the Taliban takeover. Nearly 80 per cent of its previous government’s budget came from the international community.