Washington, DC
September 6, 2005

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.

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