The World Health Organization has warned it only has one week's worth of medical supplies in Afghanistan. 

When the Taliban started its takeover of the country, the agency began withdrawing emergency stocks on the ground. Now officials say their teams are in talks with various governments to coordinate flying in more supplies on empty planes trying to reach evacuees at Kabul airport.

Prior to the Taliban takeover, 500 metric tonnes of urgently needed medical supplies were due to arrive over the past two weeks. Those supplies are now grounded in Dubai after commercial flights were stopped from entering the Afghan capital.

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Richard Brennan, WHO regional emergency director, explained discussions are taking place with at least three different countries to secure flights to bring in the supplies, but that it is a complex logistical mission to ensure the planes can be unloaded safely, for trucks to enter the airport and for the supplies to be transported and stored. He told a media briefing: "We are encouraged by countries offering flights and hoping to have more encouraging details in coming days."

In Tuesday's update, officials outlined the main challenges and priorities for Afghanistan, noting concerns about the spread of COVID-19 as people move around the country and are placed in overcrowded situations. In a week-to-week comparison, testing for COVID-19 has dropped by more than 70 percent, while vaccinations have dropped from thousands a week to hundreds. 

Only 5 percent of the country's population has been vaccinated against COVID-19. WHO officials say their teams are working with authorities to ensure health facilities can remain open and functional to offer support across the medical sector, with the hope they will soon have more supplies to work with.

WHO officials say their polio vaccination teams remain in all 34 provinces and have reported that most health facilities around the country have remained staffed. However, those on the ground have reported a decrease in the number of people seeking medical attention and services, particularly the number of women.

The WHO stressed it is committed to stay and provide health services to the Afghan people and to continue working with partners to deliver aid and assistance. Officials urged authorities to respect all international and humanitarian laws to protect people's right to health, wellbeing and their access to medical services.

Officials have stressed gains made particularly in the areas of women's and children's health over the past two decades must not be lost. Areas outlined as focuses include health crises the country was facing before COVID-19 – such as vaccination and surveillance programs for polio, feeding those who are malnourished and mental health support.