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Australia donates $10m
September 2, 2005 - 4:25PM
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The Australian government will donate $10 million to assist relief operations in the wake of hurricane Katrina in the United States.
Prime Minister John Howard said the money would be given to the American Red Cross and used for emergency relief carried out by the organisation.
"Given the extraordinary generosity of the United States when other countries are in need, and given the very close relationship between Australia and the United States, and given also the scale of the disaster, we believe it is a very valuable gesture and a mark of our concern for the scale of the human misery that has come from this disaster," Mr Howard said this afternoon in Hobart.
He said he had already offered to send a team of emergency specialists to the disaster area but the US was yet to accept the offer.
The money would be used to provide blankets, food parcels and "all the sorts of things that are provided to people all around the world when they're suddenly rendered destitute", Mr Howard said.
Mr Howard said he had not yet spoken to US President George W Bush but confirmed he had sent a personal note of sympathy.
"He knows from the note and from our friendship that we would be concerned but he's got plenty on his plate and frankly I'll probably talk to him at a later time," he said.
Australia joins more than 20 countries - even poor Honduras - in offering help.
Accustomed to being a rich donor rather than on the receiving end of charity, the United States initially seemed reticent about accepting foreign aid, but later said it would take up any offers.
The hurricane devastated New Orleans and other parts of the US Gulf Coast, killing hundreds and possibly thousands.
"Anything that can be of help to alleviate the tragic situation of the area affected by Hurricane Katrina will be accepted," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
The United Nations offered to help coordinate international relief efforts for the United States.
"The sheer size of this emergency makes it possible that we can supplement the American response with supplies from other countries, or with experience we have gained in other relief operations," UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a statement.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Howard said everyone's thoughts and sympathy should be with America.
"This idea that 'well they're the most powerful, wealthiest country in the world' - but when something like this strikes, the poor and the vulnerable are the same all around the world," Mr Howard said.
Earlier, President George W Bush said in a television interview that the United States could take care of itself.
"I'm not expecting much from foreign nations because we hadn't asked for it. I do expect a lot of sympathy and perhaps some will send cash dollars. But this country's going to rise up and take care of it," Bush told Good Morning America on the US ABC network.
McCormack said there had not been a change of position over accepting foreign aid and White House spokesman Scott McClellan also said the United States would take up offers of help.
The State Department said offers so far had come from Belgium, Canada, Russia, Japan, France, Germany, Britain, China, Australia, Jamaica, Honduras, Greece, Venezuela, the Organisation of American States, NATO, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, South Korea, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
Assistance ranged from medical teams, boats, aircraft, tents, blankets, generators and cash donations.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon wrote to Bush offering medical teams.
"During these difficult times, we, the people of Israel stand firmly by your side in a show of solidarity and friendship," said the letter, which was released by the Israeli Embassy in Washington.
Where the United States really needs help is getting cheap oil and the Bush administration will be approaching Arab nations and other oil producers over the coming days.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a vocal critic of the United States, offered to send cheap fuel, humanitarian aid and relief workers to the disaster area.
The State Department did not comment on Venezuela's offer but several officials smiled at the gesture from Chavez, who yesterday called Bush a "cowboy" who failed to manage the disaster.
Cuban President Fidel Castro, a close Chavez ally, led a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims of Katrina in parliament today.
The parliament then returned to normal business with a resolution attacking Bush over the Iraq war.
Australia donates $10m
September 2, 2005 - 4:25PM
Page Tools
* Email to a friend
* Printer format
*
*
The Australian government will donate $10 million to assist relief operations in the wake of hurricane Katrina in the United States.
Prime Minister John Howard said the money would be given to the American Red Cross and used for emergency relief carried out by the organisation.
"Given the extraordinary generosity of the United States when other countries are in need, and given the very close relationship between Australia and the United States, and given also the scale of the disaster, we believe it is a very valuable gesture and a mark of our concern for the scale of the human misery that has come from this disaster," Mr Howard said this afternoon in Hobart.
He said he had already offered to send a team of emergency specialists to the disaster area but the US was yet to accept the offer.
The money would be used to provide blankets, food parcels and "all the sorts of things that are provided to people all around the world when they're suddenly rendered destitute", Mr Howard said.
Mr Howard said he had not yet spoken to US President George W Bush but confirmed he had sent a personal note of sympathy.
"He knows from the note and from our friendship that we would be concerned but he's got plenty on his plate and frankly I'll probably talk to him at a later time," he said.
Australia joins more than 20 countries - even poor Honduras - in offering help.
Accustomed to being a rich donor rather than on the receiving end of charity, the United States initially seemed reticent about accepting foreign aid, but later said it would take up any offers.
The hurricane devastated New Orleans and other parts of the US Gulf Coast, killing hundreds and possibly thousands.
"Anything that can be of help to alleviate the tragic situation of the area affected by Hurricane Katrina will be accepted," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
The United Nations offered to help coordinate international relief efforts for the United States.
"The sheer size of this emergency makes it possible that we can supplement the American response with supplies from other countries, or with experience we have gained in other relief operations," UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a statement.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Howard said everyone's thoughts and sympathy should be with America.
"This idea that 'well they're the most powerful, wealthiest country in the world' - but when something like this strikes, the poor and the vulnerable are the same all around the world," Mr Howard said.
Earlier, President George W Bush said in a television interview that the United States could take care of itself.
"I'm not expecting much from foreign nations because we hadn't asked for it. I do expect a lot of sympathy and perhaps some will send cash dollars. But this country's going to rise up and take care of it," Bush told Good Morning America on the US ABC network.
McCormack said there had not been a change of position over accepting foreign aid and White House spokesman Scott McClellan also said the United States would take up offers of help.
The State Department said offers so far had come from Belgium, Canada, Russia, Japan, France, Germany, Britain, China, Australia, Jamaica, Honduras, Greece, Venezuela, the Organisation of American States, NATO, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, South Korea, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
Assistance ranged from medical teams, boats, aircraft, tents, blankets, generators and cash donations.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon wrote to Bush offering medical teams.
"During these difficult times, we, the people of Israel stand firmly by your side in a show of solidarity and friendship," said the letter, which was released by the Israeli Embassy in Washington.
Where the United States really needs help is getting cheap oil and the Bush administration will be approaching Arab nations and other oil producers over the coming days.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a vocal critic of the United States, offered to send cheap fuel, humanitarian aid and relief workers to the disaster area.
The State Department did not comment on Venezuela's offer but several officials smiled at the gesture from Chavez, who yesterday called Bush a "cowboy" who failed to manage the disaster.
Cuban President Fidel Castro, a close Chavez ally, led a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims of Katrina in parliament today.
The parliament then returned to normal business with a resolution attacking Bush over the Iraq war.
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