Bush: Response ' unacceptable'

2005-09-02 15:35

Washington - US President George W Bush, bound for three southern US states ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, said on Friday the poor early response to the deadly storm was unacceptable.

There are "a lot of people working hard to help those who have been affected, and I want to thank the people for their efforts. The results are not acceptable," Bush said at the White House minutes before his departure.

"I'm looking forward to talking to the people on the ground. I want to assure the people of the affected areas and this country that we'll deploy the assets necessary and get the situation under control," said the president.

Bush was to take an aerial tour of coastal Alabama and Mississippi, and walk through parts of devastated Biloxi, Mississippi, before taking another aerial tour of New Orleans followed by a stated on recovery efforts at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, according to the White House.

With relief and rescue efforts hampered by looting and wrecked infrastructure, Bush said military police just arrived in New Orleans were trying to secure a drop site for direly needed food, water and medicine.

"There's a lot of aid surging toward those who have been affected. Millions of gallons of water, millions of tons of food," said Bush, who has drawn fire for what some say was a belated response to the disaster.

"We're beginning long-term planning to help those who have been displaced, as well as long-term planning to help rebuild the communities that have been affected," said the president.

"I'm looking forward to my trip down there. And looking forward to thanking those on the ground and looking forward to assure people that we'll get on top of this situation and we're going to help people who need help," he said.

- AFP