International response to Hurricane Katrina

Many countries and international organizations offered the United States relief aid in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Contents 

According to the European Commission, one week after the disaster, on September 4, 2005, the United States officially asked the European Union for emergency help, asking for blankets, emergency medical kits, water and 500,000 food rations for victims. Help proposed by EU member states was coordinated through their crisis center. The British presidency of the EU functioned as contact with the USA.

Other countries not on this list also offered aid, but the State Department mentioned that they (the State Department) had not been asked. Later, the US State Department said all offers were being examined.[1][2]

Pledges and donations from countries

Below is a list of countries who offered aid. Some of these efforts were not formally accepted by the U.S. government (see "Actual Funds Used" below).

United States Navy personnel unload Canadian relief supplies from a Royal Canadian Air Force transport aircraft in Pensacola, Florida.

September 5, 35 military divers were poised to depart by air Sunday from Halifax and Esquimalt, B.C., for the New Orleans area. September 4, On the request from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Canada sent thousands of beds, blankets, surgical gloves and dressings and other medical supplies. On September 2 the Government of Canada announced it was sending three warships along with a Coast Guard vessel, and three Sea King helicopters to the area. Over 1,000 personnel are involved in the operation, including engineers and navy divers. The Canadian Heavy Urban Search and Rescue out of Vancouver was in Louisiana from September 1, due to security they started their mission on Sept 3. Ontario Hydro, Hydro-Québec, and Manitoba Hydro, along with other electrical utilities, had crews set to go to the affected areas. On September 2 Air Canada participated along with U.S. member airlines of the Air Transport Association, in a voluntary airline industry initiative to support rescue and relief operations. Money donations although were very high, the province of Alberta alone threw in 5 million dollars. Although it is hard to put an exact number on Canadian cash donations because of some Canadians donating directly to the American agencies, Canada is widely believed to be the highest international donor nation, and with Mexico was one of the two countries in the world to supply direct military assistance in addition to civilian donations and supplies as the US Government declined direct military support from all other nations.

The Minister-President of the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate addressed a letter to the commanders of the American forces stationed in his state offering financial support to those affected by the flooding.
Another German Air Force cargo plane carrying several thousand military rations (MRE) was denied entry into US airspace since, according to US authorities, they were not certified BSE-free. This was disputed by German authorities, pointing out that they were BSE-free according to NATO rules, that US soldiers would eat them regularly during joint operations (e.g. Afghanistan) and that these meals fully complied to UN rules.[25]
Mexican Sailors assigned to the Mexican amphibious ship ARM Papaloapan (P-411) debark a U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) as they prepare to work on rehabilitation projects in the Biloxi, Mi

Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas received almost 196 Mexican troops, 14 truckloads of water, a mobile surgical unit, 45 military vehicles, 3 tons of purified water, and more than 250 tons of food, bottled water, canned food, disposable diapers and medical supplies. The Mexican Government sent $1 million through the Mexican Red Cross which collected an additional million, as well as 200 tons of food delivered in five airplanes from the Mexican Air Force by another Mexican Government body. The Mexican Navy sent two ships, 385 troopers, eight all-terrain vehicles, seven amphibious vehicles, two tankers, two helicopters, radio communication equipment, medical personnel and 296 tons of food as well. The state of Jalisco also sent four experts in disaster, while the Federal government offered to send expert teams in epidemiology and to cover the costs of returning any Mexican national back to Mexico.

Was one of the first countries to offer assistance. Up to four jets were placed on standby at the Ramenskoye Airport near Moscow as early as August 30, including heavy Ilyushin Il-76-TDs with special evacuation equipment, medical equipment, a water-cleansing system, a BK-117 rescue helicopter and two special cars; and a passenger IL-62, which brought 10 coordinators and 50 rescuers, as well as 6 tons of drinking water. On September 6, the Bush administration gave its approval.[41]

Three Singaporean CH-47 Chinook helicopters and thirty-eight RSAF personnel from a training detachment based in Grand Prairie, Texas assisted in relief operations from 1 September. They had so far ferried about 700 evacuees and hauled tons of supplies in 39 sorties on 4 September. One more CH-47 Chinook helicopter was sent to aid in relief efforts.[42]

Pledges from International Organizations

Below is a list of international governmental organizations offering aid to the people of the United States.

Actual funds used

An article in the April 29, 2007 Washington Post claimed that of the $854 million offered by foreign countries, whom the article dubs "allies," to the US Government, only $40 million of the funds had been spent "for disaster victims or reconstruction" as of the date of publication (less than 5%).[57]

Additionally, a large portion of the $854 million in aid offered went uncollected, including over $400 million in oil (almost 50%).[57]

See also

References

  1. Staff Writer. "World mobilises to aid US victims." BBC News. September 2, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Fisher-Thompson, Jim. "Uganda Is Latest African Donor of Relief to Hurricane Katrina." U.S. State Department: International Information Programs. September 8, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  3. http://www.rawa.org/katrina.htm
  4. http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2005/09/07/feature-02
  5. Earl Anthony Wayne to be Ambassador to Argentina
  6. http://www.armeniaforeignministry.com/pr_05/050910_ktrine_efforts.html
  7. http://ministers.treasury.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?doc=pressreleases/2005/074.htm&pageID=003&min=mtb&Year=2005&DocType=0
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Hurricane Katrina list of offers from countries participating in the EU mechanism." (Press Release) European Union. September 5, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  9. http://azerbaijan.usembassy.gov/uploads/images/XvodSE-J4NytpEWsq6JFTw/PR-090405-Eng.pdf
  10. Block, Melissa (September 7, 2005). "Other Countries Reach Out with Katrina Aid". NPR. Retrieved March 15, 2011. BLOCK: Cyprus, Mongolia, the Bahamas and Djibouti are each sending $50,000.
  11. "Foreign aid to U.S. for Katrina relief". Associated Press. September 10, 2005. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  12. 1 2 "Qatar announces Katrina relief grants". USA Today. May 2, 2006. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  13. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9231819/ns/us_news-katrina_the_long_road_back/t/nations-offer-aid-help-us-katrina/
  14. Staff Writer. "China to offer $5 mln to Katrina-hit US regions." Xinhua News Agency. September 3, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  15. Staff Writer. "Relief goods from China arrives in US." Xinhua News Agency. September 8, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  16. 1 2 3 Morse, Jane A. "Asia-Pacific Opens Hearts, Wallets to U.S. Victims of Katrina." U.S. State Department: International Information Programs. September 8, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  17. 1 2 3 Staff Writer. "U.S. receives aid offers from around the world." CNN. September 4, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  18. Newman, Lucia. "Castro: U.S. hasn't responded to Katrina offer." CNN. September 5, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  19. http://formin.finland.fi/Public/Print.aspx?contentid=64803&nodeid=15923&culture=en-US&contentlan=2
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  23. Staff Writer. "THW-experts for water damage and pumping on their way to New Orleans." Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk. September 8, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  24. Staff Writer. "[THW Deployment in Louisiana: Pumping has begun THW Deployment in Louisiana: Pumping has begun]." Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk. September 11, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  25. Staff Writer. "German Aid Arrives in US." Deutsche Welle. September 3, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  26. Greece delivers aid for Katrina victims during special ceremony
  27. Staff Writer. "India pledges 5 million dollars for Katrina relief operations." Rediff.com. September 3, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  28. "Indian aid for hurricane Katrina victims delivered." (Press Release_ Indian Embassy. September 17, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
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  30. Staff Writer. "Rice: All Foreign Aid Offers Will Be Accepted." Fox News. September 1, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  31. Nechama : Jewish Response to Disaster
  32. Israel and the United States: Friends, Partners, Allies, PDF
  33. Israelis launch aid efforts for Katrina victims
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  35. Staff Writer. "Correction: Katrina-World-Offers-Glance." Associated Press. September 15, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  36. http://setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2005/09/07/feature-02
  37. "OPEC Member Country Kuwait pledges US $500m aid package to USA, in wake of Hurricane Katrina". OPEC. September 4, 2005. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  38. Staff Writer. "Nepali king expresses condolence over US hurricane disaster." People's Daily. September 4, 2006. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  39. "Further NZ assistance in wake of Hurricane Katrina." (Press Release) Scoop. September 6, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  40. Koppel, Andrea. "Qatar offers $100m to relief fund." CNN. September 4, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  41. Staff Writer. "Russia Sending Aid to U.S." Moscow Times. September 6, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  42. Staff Writer. "RSAF Deployment to Assist in Hurricane Katrina Relief Operations." (Press Release) Ministry of Defence (Singapore). September 2, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  43. Slovenian Aid for Katrina Victims on Its Way to the US
  44. Staff Writer. "El Consejo de Ministros aprueba el envío del 2% de las reservas de crudo para ayudar a EEUU." El Mundo. September 9, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006. Article in Spanish.
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  50. Staff Writer. "Suspendida, 79% de la producción petrolera de EU en el Golfo; Chávez envía gasolina y ayuda." La Jornada. September 5, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006. Article in Spanish.
  51. McCollum, David. "Venezuela's CITGO pledges an additional $1 million to Hurricane relief efforts." VHeadline.com. September 5, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  52. Staff Writer. "Venezuela formalizes offer of fuel and humanitarian aid for the United States." VHeadline.com. September 2, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  53. Staff Writer. "Habitat for Humanity issues emergency appeal for hurricane funds to aid families." ReliefWeb. August 31, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  54. Staff Writer. "Oil prices drop on reserve offers." BBC News. September 2, 2005. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
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  56. "Hurricane Katrina: Help Center." CNN. Retrieved on June 10, 2006.
  57. 1 2 Solomon, John; Spencer S. Hsu (2007). "Most Katrina Aid From Overseas Went Unclaimed" (News Article). Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
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