As Central American leaders analyse ways of reducing the impact of natural disasters, Honduran officials have said that recent flooding in the country could have been avoided if they had received the international aid promised in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch.

Downpours in the last few days have left some 35 people dead, flooded14,000 hectares of farmland, and caused losses estimated at around $20m dollars.

An official at the country's emergency planning department, Hugo Arevalo, told the BBC that they were still waiting for financial aid to help implement preventive measures.

He said many rivers urgently needed dredging to reduce the risk of overflowing.