The UN team in Afghanistan has launched a 3.6 billion U.S. dollar plan to help reduce new-found suffering and save lives.

Chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric said the overarching One-UN Transitional Engagement Framework aims to help the Afghan people meet their basic needs.

He added the funding is in addition to the 4.4 billion U.S. dollar Humanitarian Response Plan the United Nations announced on 11 January this year.