International aid is now arriving in Honduras and Nicaragua -- the two countries worst hit by the devastating floods caused by Hurricane Mitch.

But serious distribution problems remain, with a majority of roads impassable and key bridges washed away.

In southern Honduras, twelve entire neighbourhoods were swept away, killing hundreds of people and leaving survivors in desparate need of food, clothes and clean water.

The area -- the main oil-producing region of Honduras -- is completely cut off from the capital, Tegucigalpa, where fuel is running out for relief planes and helicopters.

In Nicaragua, a huge backlog of food and medical supplies is building up at Managua airport, because of a lack of planes to take it to the worst-hit areas.