Around 145,000 people are without basic humanitarian assistance in the district of Mocímboa da Praia, isolated from the city of Pemba, the provincial capital of Cabo Delgado, due to the overflow of the Messalo River.

According to the district administrator, Sérgio Cipriano, people are starving because there is no food in the stores and warehouses and there is a shortage of fuel at the local petrol stations.

A total of 300 fields have already been flooded in the village of Nanila and 10 in Mocímboa Velha.

"The district has lost communication with the city of Pemba due to the flooding of the Messalo River. And this is having a negative impact on the supply of basic necessities," he said, quoted by TVM.

Because of the situation, there is speculation on fuel prices, with a liter of petrol currently selling for 150 meticais and a 10kg bag of rice for between 1,700 and 1,500 meticais, depending on the quality.

"At the moment, 145,000 people in the district are suffering from hunger. The whole district is suffering from hunger. We can't get this going because of the shortage of products in the warehouses. We're confident that we'll find a solution. We've already raised the concern at provincial level," he said.