US asks EU for aid
The US has asked the European Union for emergency assistance, requesting blankets, first aid kits, water trucks and food for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, the European Commission said today.
EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said the 25-nation bloc was “ready to contribute to the US efforts aimed at alleviating the humanitarian crisis” in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama – the American States hardest hit by Katrina.
The European Commission said its aid co-ordination office would manage the aid from European countries and has already drafted a preliminary list of materials, team and equipment being pledged by EU member states.
So far Austria, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Finland, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia Sweden, Spain and The Netherlands have pledged aid.
“Specialist teams from several member states are on stand-by and ready for immediate deployment,” the Commission said in a statement.
