Word pledges hurricane aid

2005-09-03 17:23

Paris - The world is holding out its hands to a superpower in crisis, offering hurricane disaster aid to the United States from a French offer of ships and aircraft to a $25 000 donation by tsunami-pounded Sri Lanka.

Offers streamed in after the United States, the world's biggest single aid donor, said it would be open to assistance though it was not making an appeal for foreign aid.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed the United States' "heartfelt" gratitude for the offers of aid that have poured in from around the world following Hurricane Katrina.

The world's industrialised countries agreed on Friday to tap their strategic oil reserves and pour 60 million barrels into the market in a month to cope with disruptions in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said Nato also stood ready to contribute.

Among the major allies

The French foreign ministry offered eight aircraft and two ships, with 600 tents and 1 000 camp beds also available at the United States' request.

The central French city of Orleans said it would be sending receipts from sports matches to its younger American sister, as well as offering 50 university places.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said he had spoken to President George W Bush, and Britain was ready to help "in any way that we can".

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer met US ambassador to Germany, William Robert Timken, and said he had made firm offers of "medicine, water treatment and technology to help find survivors" on behalf of the German government.

Japan offered $200 000 for the American Red Cross and up to $300 000 worth of tents, blankets, power generators and water tanks. Toyota offered five million dollars, Nissan  500 000.

Australia promised A$10m through the American Red Cross.

Canadian Defence Minister Bill Graham said his country was preparing a package, including an offer of military assets. Canada will also boost oil exports to the United States.

Venezuela has formally offered to the US embassy in Caracas money and fuel. In addition, Venezuela said it could send two rapid deployment medical units that can each treat 150 people, 10 water purifiers, eight power generators, 20 tonnes of water, 50 tonnes of canned food and 5 000 blankets.

Among others, the Netherlands, a low-lying country that depends on its system of levees, or dams, has offered to send a team of experts to help plan the reconstruction of New Orleans.

Italy said it was ready to help but had not been contacted. Sweden offered medical and technical aid. Lithuania's Red Cross started taking donations and Denmark said it had ordered emergency management officials "to look into the possibilities of sending aid".

Switzerland offered help in reconstruction or the prevention of further catastrophes as well as high-power pumps and other equipment. The Spanish arm of the Red Cross said it was sending a team of logistical personnel.

"The US Red Cross has asked for aid from 50 to 70 logistical personnel from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies," the Spanish organisation said.

More poignant were offers from the needy

Sri Lanka - still recovering from the December 26 tsunami which devastated the island's coastlines said it had donated $25 000 and asked doctors to help the relief effort.

Somalis offered sympathy.

- AFP