In pictures: Getting food to Miskito Indians

The government says the rat invasion was caused by a fire which engulfed a large tract of tropical forest, leaving the rodents without food or shelter.

A UN damage assessment mission found that the rat population among the river communities was six times higher than the acceptable limit.

In addition to the rat invasion, the Coco River area has suffered 12 natural disasters during the last 17 years, including seven hurricanes and five tropical storms.