BRUSSELS, Belgium - The United States has asked the
European Union and NATO for emergency assistance, requesting blankets, first aid kits, water trucks and food for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, the two organizations said Sunday.
EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said the 25-nation bloc was "ready to contribute to the U.S. efforts aimed at alleviating the humanitarian crisis" in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama — the states hardest hit by Katrina.
The 26-nation NATO alliance said it too had received a request for aid from Washington. The United States has asked for NATO relief support in the form of food rations for the thousands of people evacuated from New Orleans and other areas, the alliance said in a statement.
It added that a liaison officer was being dispatched to Washington to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
"NATO stands ready to continue to support the United States as it recovers from this natural disaster," the alliance said.
NATO's Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Center was coordinating the alliance's pledges to the American request.
The European Commission said its aid coordination office would manage the aid from European countries and already has drafted a preliminary list of materials, team and equipment being pledged by EU member states.
It said U.S. authorities had requested 500,000 prepared meals, thousands of blankets, first aid kits and several water trucks to provide clean drinking water.
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 standby and ready for immediate deployment," the Commission said in a statement.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050904/ap_on_re_eu/katrina_europe_1
U.S. to Accept Russian Aid for Katrina Aftermath — Source Created: 02.09.2005 16:39 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 16:39 MSK
MosNews
The U.S. administration has agreed to accept Russia’s proposal to help the struggling state of Louisiana tackle the disastrous consequences of Hurricane Katrina, the Gazeta.Ru website reported Friday.
The United States earlier turned down Russia’s offer of help, saying it was thankful to Moscow for its readiness to provide assistance but that it could handle the crisis on its own.
“In response to the official offer regarding the sending of an Emergencies Situation Ministry plane with rescuers and a helicopter on board, the USA, through the National Security Council, made several confirmations within a day of the inexpediency of such a move,” Russian Ambassador to the United States Yuri Ushakov told reporters on Wednesday evening.
“The Embassy was told that federal authorities and specialized services have all the necessary means and equipment to conduct relief work in the disaster area,” Ushakov said.
However, the United States noted that it would consider the Russian proposal, if need be, ITAR-TASS reported. No official confirmation of Russian aid being sent to the United States has been announced by U.S. officials.
Earlier, the director of the international department of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry Yuri Brazhnikov offered the head of the U.S. federal emergency management agency, Michael Brown, rescue teams and relief supplies, as well as two or three experts to coordinate the operation with American colleagues. Brown took the offer into consideration and said he would give an answer shortly.
Altogether, more than 20 countries, from allies Germany and Japan to prickly Venezuela and poor Honduras, have offered to help the United States cope with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Reuters news agency reported this week.
Accustomed to being a rich donor rather than on the receiving end of charity, the United States initially seemed reticent about accepting foreign aid, but later said it would take up any offers. The hurricane devastated New Orleans and other parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast, killing hundreds and possibly thousands.
“Anything that can be of help to alleviate the tragic situation of the area affected by Hurricane Katrina will be accepted,” said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. “America should be heartened by the fact that the world is reaching out to America at a time of need,” he added.
President George W. Bush said in an earlier television interview that the United States could take care of itself. “I’m not expecting much from foreign nations because we hadn’t asked for it. I do expect a lot of sympathy and perhaps some will send cash dollars. But this country’s going to rise up and take care of it,” Bush told ABC’s Good Morning America.
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/09/02/russaid.shtml
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