US offered hurricane help by more than 90 countries
More than 90 countries have offered assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina, with Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates contributing $100m (€80.2m) each in cash donations, the State Department said in Washington today.
The US eagerly accepted a German offer of high-speed pumps to reduce the floodwaters in New Orleans and of experts on levee reconstruction from the Netherlands.
“There is a process of matching needs with expertise and the donations that have been made,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.
He said the US healthcare system is meeting current needs stemming from the hurricane. That could mean that offers of medical experts from Cuba and other countries will not be accepted, but McCormack said no decisions have been made.
He said decision on proposals from foreign governments will be based on needs and not on political considerations.
Cuba has offered 1,100 doctors for hurricane relief, despite the hostile political relations between the two countries. It has repeatedly rejected US offers of humanitarian relief over the years.
Citgo, a subsidiary of Venezuela National Oil Company, is working directly with the Louisiana state government on assisting hurricane victims, McCormack said. Venezuela has also had tense relations with the government of President George W. Bush.
Separately, Venezuela has offered planeloads of soldiers and aid workers.
“Any offers of support that could potentially benefit the people who’ve been victimised by this storm have been accepted,” McCormack said.
Commenting on the outpouring of international support, McCormack said the American people “can take great heart from the fact that when we need help, when we need assistance, the world is answering the call”.
Other countries that have offered cash assistance, he said, are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, and South Korea.
Contributions made through the Red Cross have been received from Ireland, Australia, China, India, Japan, Maldives, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Helicopters from Canada and Singapore are already in the affected area carrying out relief work, McCormack said. Air Canada planes have been evacuating victims since Saturday, he added.
Meals-ready-to-eat, or MREs, have been received from Germany, Italy, Mexico and the United Kingdom.
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