Taliban closes in on Afghanistan capital

The first members of a 3,000-strong US military contingent have arrived in Kabul, with Canadian and British forces to follow as the Taliban close in on the capital.

The United Nations has warned of a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, revealing nearly 400,000 people have been displaced by the conflict since the start of the year.

With Taliban advances and all routes to the capital under their control, Hamid Karzai International Airport is the only way to get supplies in, as well as the only way to leave.

The U.S Embassy will move its operations to the airport, joining US and British military.

Thousands of embassy staff, NGOs and foreign nationals will start their journeys out from the green zone.

They will travel on the airport road, guarded by British and American soldieries to the gates, and will be processed and prepared for departure.

The vast majority of ordinary Afghans are preparing themselves for the slow retaking of their city by the Taliban.