06 September 2005
World Community Offers Support to Victims of Hurricane Katrina
Pledges of aid flood in from governments, organizations around the world
Washington -- Nations throughout the world continue to offer aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and express their support for the United States as it responds to a far-reaching natural disaster.
Hurricane Katrina struck the southeastern United States August 29, causing widespread damage and prompting the largest domestic relief effort in U.S. history. (See related article.)
Meanwhile, as the waters of the hurricane that devastated some 90,000 square miles recede, a new flood is hitting the area -- donations from governments from around the world.
"There are numerous offers, and there are a lot of countries that want to help," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said at a September 6 press briefing. "We have 90-plus offers of assistance from around the world," he said.
McCormack said Germany is sending high-speed pumps to remove water out of the city of New Orleans. The Netherlands is offering assistance in rebuilding levees to keep the water out.
Aid has been offered from Italy, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Canada, according to McCormack. NATO is offering to provide meals ready to eat. Disaster relief experts from the United Nations and the European Union are working with their counterparts in the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance in the Agency for International Development.
McCormack noted that the U.S. Health and Human Service Agency and the Department of Homeland Security are coordinating "a robust response from the American medical community in terms of medical supplies … medical professionals, doctors, nurses, as well as public health officials."
As of September 6, the official list of donor countries includes:
| Afghanistan | $100,000 |
| Armenia | $100,000 |
| Australia | $7.6 million |
| Azerbaijan | $500,000 |
| Bahamas | $50,000 |
| Bahrain | $5 million |
| Bangladesh | $1 million |
| Belgium | Med/logistics teams to Red Cross |
| Canada | 2 helos, 32-person rescue team, Air Canada evacuation flights, medical supplies |
| China | $5.1 million cash and relief supplies |
| Djibouti | $50,000 |
| Finland | 3 logisticians to Red Cross |
| France | tents, tarps, MREs, water treatment supplies |
| Gabon | $500,000 |
| Georgia | $50,000 |
| Germany | MREs and high speed pumps |
| Greece | cruise ships, private offer |
| ICRC | web-based tracing system |
| India | $5 million |
| Israel | tents, first aid kits, baby formula |
| Italy | generators, water pumps/purifiers, tents, med supplies |
| Japan | $1,000,000 cash, generators, tents, blankets, bottled water |
| Kuwait | $400 million in oil, $100 million cash |
| Maldives | $25,000 cash |
| Mexico | bedding, MREs, baby care items, personalhygiene kits |
| NATO | coordinating European assistance offers |
| Norway | $1.54 million in relief supplies |
| Organization of American States | $25,000 cash |
| Qatar | $100 million cash |
| Republic of Korea | $30 million cash and in-kind donations |
| Saudi Arabia | $255 million from Aramco |
| Singapore | 3 helos |
| Sri Lanka | $25,000 cash |
| Taiwan | $2 million cash, medical supplies |
| Thailand | Large amounts of food |
| UAE | $100 million cash |
| UK | MREs |
| UN OCHA | UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team and Logisitics support |
| UN WHO | Public health officers and logisticians |
| Venezuela | Up to $1 million to Red Cross |
McCormack noted that the International Committee for the Red Cross has a well-established international tracking system for people overseas who are in search of friends or loved ones.
In the United States, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the United Way are spearheading private aid to victims, and President Bush encouraged Americans to donate to these organizations.
The victims of the hurricane, Bush said, “need the help and love and compassion of our fellow citizens …. Out of the darkness will come some light.”
For additional information, see Hurricane Katrina.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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