Brazilian mobs on streets over drought

Brazilian authorities are pledging millions of pounds to bring water supplies to the country's drought-hit north-east region.

Approximately one million people have been affected by the drought, which has seen 90% of crops fail and hunger fuel unrest.

Mobs armed with machetes and hatchets have blocked highways in the poor region to demand money and food from passing vehicles.

The state of Pernambuco has been declared as in a state of emergency due to social unrest aggravated by hunger.

Of 56 affected municipalities, the government is classing six as in "social collapse" due to a lack of food and water, reports the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper.

The department of Agricultural Development says it will announce plans this week to deal with the consequences of the drought. It is expected to involve setting aside more than £25m to deliver minimum water supplies to the region.