Maputo, Mozambique — Hundreds of Malawians are fleeing every day into the central Mozambican province of Zambezia, in an attempt to escape from flooding on the Shire river, which marks the frontier between the two countries.

The representative of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), for the provinces of Zambezia, Manica and Sofala, Atanasio Rocha, told the Mozambican News Agency (AIM) on Saturday, that over the past two days about 3,500 Malawians have taken refuge on high ground in Pinda and Megaza, in the Zambezia district of Morrumbala.

He said there was now an "enormous influx" of people from flooded areas in southern Malawi looking for somewhere safe on the Mozambican side of the border. The areas where they have taken shelter are also accommodating large numbers of Mozambicans, victims of flooding on the Mozambican bank of the Shire.

Rocha said that both the Mozambican and the Malawian flood victims are befitting from food aid provided by the WORLD FOOD Programme.

Meanwhile, assistance for about 424,000 flood victims in Zambezia, which was suspended on Thursday, is due to resume on Saturday afternoon.

The suspension was caused by a shortage of fuel for the helicopters involved in rescue and food delivery operations.

Hundreds of people stranded on the islands of shire and Zambezi rivers were particularly affected by the suspension.