In this story:

• As aid pours in, many still in need
• Mitch sets crocodiles free in Guatemala
• Related stories and sites

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (CNN) -- The hallways of Honduras' largest hospital are packed with patients. But because of the enormous devastation brought by Hurricane Mitch, doctors can't do as much as they normally could to help them.

The hospital no longer has running water, and sanitary conditions are so bad that doctors have canceled all but the most urgent surgeries.

The hospital's director, Dr. Carlos Hueso, said the hospital has water tanks outside. "Everyone, from doctors to nurses and patients' relatives, has had to get their own water in plastic bags to clean patients," he said.

In the capital of Tegucigalpa, residents bathe and wash clothes in rivers contaminated by corpses and by chemicals from a factory upstream, destroyed in the storm. Skin infections abound.

A river contaminated with chemicals and corpses is a water source for victims of Mitch

"Our biggest concern," Hueso said, "is that the consumption of our water can lead to epidemics, especially of cholera." The crisis is already blamed for an increase in dengue fever. And doctors warn, because the incubation period for dangerous diseases like dengue fever, cholera and gastroenteritis is several weeks, the worst may be yet to come.

Marta Perez believes the water crisis may be to blame for the death of her 9-year-old girl. Jennifer was helping her mother wash clothes at a makeshift well when, according to witnesses, an emotionally unstable construction worker wanted to cover up the well, saying it interfered with his work.

"My sister told the man, 'Just a little bit more water,'" said Jennifer's young brother. "When she was lifting the pail up," he said, "the man pulled out a gun and grabbed her head and shot her through the head."

Tipper Gore visits the devastated region on behalf of the Clinton administration

Even with millions of dollars in international aid, as well as clothes, medicine and food pouring in, Central Americans are still suffering through food and water shortages and unbearable living conditions.

Stunned by the scale of Mitch, which killed more than 10,000 people and displaced millions, governments from around the world have promised relief and forgiven millions in debts. Spain increased its aid package to $192 million Wednesday, including some debt relief.

Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Aleman said he was "heartened by the solidarity and brotherhood of the international community" but said much more help was still needed. He added that many people in Honduras and Nicaragua have yet to see any sign of the international aid.

A child hospitalized for dengue fever

Elizabeth Dole, president of the American Red Cross, was in Tegucigalpa Wednesday to make sure her agency is doing a good job getting relief to the people. She said she was impressed by the Hondurans' "strong faith" and "hope" in the wake of perhaps the worst Atlantic hurricane in two centuries.

Tipper Gore, wife of U.S. Vice President Al Gore, is also in the region, representing the Clinton administration. Wednesday, she helped distribute water bottles, toilet paper and wash buckets at a relief camp in Nicaragua, with Nicaraguan-born Atlanta Braves pitcher Dennis Martinez serving as a translator.

French President Jacques Chirac is expected to visit the region next week.

In Guatemala, there is a new fear as residents begin to put their infrastructure back together. The rains that swamped bridges, roads and villages also caused the escape of nearly 400 crocodiles from the Institute of Science and Technology.

Search teams have been combing the area and recapturing the animals, but more than 200 were still on the loose. Experts fear the animals may start attacking people, for lack of other food.

Meanwhile, some families of sailors lost in the hurricane have filed lawsuits in Miami against Windjammer Barefoot Cruises, accusing the company of ordering what amounted to a suicide mission.

Thirty-one crewmen were lost when the schooner "Fantome" went down in the storm. Attorney Bill Huggett said the company was callous, putting efforts to save the ship ahead of the lives of the crew.

A Windjammer official calls the suits groundless.

Correspondent Lucia Newman, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.