Afghanistan is facing an “absolute catastrophe” involving widespread hunger, homelessness, and economic collapse unless an urgent humanitarian effort is agreed in the wake of the US withdrawal, world leaders are warned today.

With growing anger over Britain’s chaotic evacuation effort and people killed in a crush around Kabul airport yesterday, a meeting of G7 leaders has been hastily arranged for early this week.

Senior figures in Kabul warned that the latest chaos is combining with drought, huge displacements of people, and economic paralysis to create a disaster requiring immediate international action.

Mary-Ellen McGroarty, the UN’s World Food Programme’s country director for Afghanistan, told the Observer that swift coordinated action was critical.

“Otherwise, an already horrendous situation is just going to become an absolute catastrophe, a complete humanitarian disaster,” she said. “We need to get supplies into the country, not only in terms of food but the medical supplies, the shelter supplies. We need money and we need it now.