U.S. Overwhelmed With Offers Of International Aid
Big News  | 9/5/05
 

The United States has received enormous offers of aid from more than 70 countries so far, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday.

"We are now putting those offers to good use," she said. "We have used Canadian airlifts, Singaporean helicopters are in the area and have helped with people. We have offers from France and those supplies will be taken up. We have a need, as a matter of fact, for – in some parts of the devastated areas -- for meals ready-to-eat, the MREs, and we have gone out to countries to ask for more of those. We’ve had cash contributions."

The secretary was speaking to reporters in Bayou La Batre, in her home state of Alabama.

"I just want to say that people have said without fail that the United States is a compassionate country that has helped so much when there has been devastation around the world that they want give back to the United States. And that should make us feel good as Americans to know that people acknowledge how much we have been able to help and that they now want to help us," said Ms. Rice.

"The United Nations has mobilized their disaster experts. I want to thank Secretary General Kofi Annan for that. Their people are sitting with our people in Washington to plan out UN support. So there’s just a lot," she added.

Foes such as Venezuela, Iran, and Cuba have been among countries offering help. Arab nations too are at the fore with one country, Kuwait, which was liberated by a U.S.-led coalition in 1991 after being invaded by Iraq, donating $500 million of oil products and humanitarian aid. The tiny country of Qatar has offered $100 million, while Saudi Refining, a Houston-based subsidiary of state oil firm Saudi Aramco, will donate $5 million to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts for hurricane victims.

Iran has offered to send humanitarian aid to hurricane victims, Reuters reported. "We are prepared to send our contributions to the people through the Red Crescent," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told Reuters.

Singapore has sent three Chinook military helicopters to Fort Polk, Louisiana, to help. Australian has donated $10 million cash to the American Red Cross, Indian $5 million, and Japan $500,000. Nigeria has pledged $1 million. All of the tsunami-hit countries have also weighed in despite their limited capacity. These countries have also pledged medical teams, rescue equipment, aircraft, food, and humanitarian aid.

CNN says Cuban President Fidel Castro has offered to fly 1,100 doctors to Houston, Texas, with 26 tons of medicine to treat disaster victims.

France has offered mobile help from rescue teams in the French Antilles in the Caribbean, including a civil defense detachment of 35 people, tents, camp beds, generators, motor pumps, water treatment units and emergency kits, two CASA cargo aircraft, a ship (Batral Francis Garnier) and the frigate Ventose with its Panther helicopter, and a hurricane disaster unit. France also has offered assistance from the French mainland, including several aircraft. In addition, the NGO Telecoms Sans Frontieres, which specializes in restoring phone lines and Internet service in disasters, is ready to send a team of experts and equipment. Veolia Environment, which has facilities in Louisiana, has offered to make its local water management resources available.

Germany, says CNN, has offered a range of assistance, including medical and transportation services, water treatment capabilities and aid in searching for victims and supplies. Germany also has said it is ready and willing to "dip into its own emergency oil reserves" to release some 2 million barrels a day for 30 days.

Italy has offered to send aid and evacuation specialists immediately, Italy's civil protection unit said. Authorities have prepared two military transport planes to fly amphibious vessels, pumps, generators, tents and personnel to New Orleans, Louisiana, and other areas. They were awaiting word from U.S. officials, the unit said.

The Netherlands will provide teams for inspecting dikes and for identifying victims if there is a formal request from the United States. It also will send a frigate from Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles to New Orleans shortly to provide emergency assistance, the Dutch government said.

Russia has offered to help with rescue efforts but is awaiting a reply from Washington.

Spain expects to receive a formal request to release gasoline stocks to the United States and is prepared to grant it, an Industry Ministry spokesman said.

Sweden's Rescue Authority said it was on standby to supply water purifying equipment, health care supplies and emergency shelters if needed, said CNN.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, as we reported last week, has written to President Bush offering medical assistance, and expressing a willingness to send hundreds of doctors, nurses, experts in trauma and natural disasters, field hospitals and medical kits and other equipment, as well as temporary housing. Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair has also pledged 100% support.