US accepts UN hurricane aid
2005-09-04 20:26
New York - The United States has accepted an offer of UN assistance following the Hurricane Katrina disaster which has devastated New Orleans and other communit-es along the US Gulf coast, a UN spokesperson said on Sunday.
He said in a statement that a UN co-ordination team was in Washington "consulting with government officials on how best the UN can complement the United States' own emergency efforts".
The team is working at the newly-established USAid Hurricane Katrina operations centre, where offers of international assistance are being co-ordinated.
"The United Nations office for the co-ordination of humanitarian affairs, the world food programme, the world health organisation, Unicef and the high commissioner for refugees are ready to provide emergency staff and a wide variety of relief supplies as and when necessary," said the statement.
Dozens of countries around the world, from allies like Britain, to long-time US adversaries such as Cuba and Venezuela, have offered support in the hurricane relief effort.
- AFP