USA officially requested help from EU

[Viking]

Weltweit Hilfsaktionen für Katastrophengebiete in US-Südstaaten
Hamburg (dpa) - Die USA haben eine Woche nach Hurrikan «Katrina» von weit mehr als 50 Staaten Hilfsangebote erhalten - darunter auch von Ländern, die mit Amerika verfeindet sind. Heute boten Iran und Kuba ihre Unterstützung für die Opfer an. Die Bundeswehr hat am Wochenende 25 Tonnen Lebensmittel für die Hurrikanopfer in die USA geschickt. Inzwischen bat die US-Regierung um konkrete Unterstützung der Europäischen Union. Die amerikanischen Behörden forderten Medikamente, Decken, Tankwagen und 500 000 Essensrationen an.

Translation:
Worlwide assistance for disaster areas in the southern USA
Hamburg (German Press Agency) - One week after the hurricane Katrina the USA has received offers for help from more than 50 nations - even from countries which are considered enemies. Today Iran and Cuba offered help for the victims. The Bundeswehr (German Military Forces) has sent 25 metric tons of food for the hurricane victims to the USA. Meanwhile the US-Adminstration specified its requests to the European Union. The Americans requested medical supplies, blankets, tanker trucks and 500,000 K-Rations.
End of article


We have lots of initiatives over here collecting money for the victims (I also started one in my company).
We already sent a recon-team of our Technisches Hilfswerk. This a federal service comparable to your Army Engineering Corps. They're specialists in building bridges, repairing dikes, setting up water purification plants, repairing infrastructure. Right now they're assessing the damage to decide which units to be sent. These people also stayed for many weeks in the areas affected by the Tsunami, worked in quake-regions all over the world, etc.

 

[poohandwendy]

Thank you for posting this. That is wonderful and I know we all appreciate the help!

 

[Luv2Roam]

Thank You. I am sure everything will be greatly appreciated.

 

[JimMIA]

We appreciate your help, and your post. In addition, I believe Germany was among the first of our allies to support the release of world oil reserves to help offset the global effect of the hurricane. Danke!

 

[Talking Hands]

We appreciate your help. I remember after Andrew we had Canadian troops helping as well as US. Help from other countries is indeed appreciated.

 

[Viking]

That's what friends are for!!
And -opposed to what many conservatives think- it also shows that we still are friends, and always have been!!!

 

[Microcell]

Thanks for the help, we could use it.

 

[Charade]

Thank you for posting this. That is wonderful and I know we all appreciate the help!

Ditto!!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Friends don't have to agree on everything and can have strong ideological differences, but friends will help each other in times of crisis.

To Canada, the UK, Germany, France, the entire EU, Sri Lanka (still recovering from the tsunami), and many other countries and their people who have offered assistance of all types, thank you.

 

[Viking]

Passive aggressive much?

Thanks for the help, we could use it. I am as conservative as they get!

That's why I wrote many - not all
But you must have heard some of the bashings we Europeans have gotten here by right-wingers just because we dared to have a different opinion.
We weren't even believed when we said that we still are friends, they automatically took the stance 'If you're not for us, you're against us!!'

So at least this catastrophe has one positive side-effect: America sees that it still has many, many friends in the world and will always have.
And even if we Germans (Europeans) would build up New Orleans with our own hands we would still be in your debt for what you did for us in WWII and the years after it!!!

 

[kathleena]

Thanks for posting that and thanks for all of your help.

They reported on the news today that several nations are donating directly to the American Red Cross - among them Japan and Qatar. The figure they announced for Qatar was $100 million. I've been trying to reconfirm that as it seemed really high - but if it's accurate, that's astounding. Japan was $200,000 and another country was about the same.

My company in the US is donating $250,000 to the ARC. I'm sure there are many many others.

 

[Laura]

Yay for Germany!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yeah! Good news.

 

[dcentity2000]

Good ol' Germany



Rich::

 

[t&csmom]

Its nice to know the Germany is helping.

Their are troops based in Germany who have been over there for a long time and they consider it home.

 

[Viking]

Its nice to know the Germany is helping.

Their are troops based in Germany who have been over there for a long time and they consider it home.

I even live in a housing area which used to be American until the Wall fell and American troop strength was downsized considerably.

 

[ckckc2000]

Being a child of a german immigrant(almost 100% german hertiage) and having lived in germany while in the Army-I am very glad you posted this-there has been a lot of really bad threads that just make a person sick in all the name calling-this is a great thread!!!! and very much appreciated-glad to hear that the US isn't always held in a negative light by europe-thank-you thank-you!!!!!You made my night!!!!!!!

 

[Viking]

Do you know that your state Wisconsin and my state Hesse have a partnership?
And in general the USA doesn't have a bad image over here - it's just Bush who has a bad image

 

[ckckc2000]

No Idea ???that there was-but not surprised-I live in Germantown-and many of the companies here have german roots!!!-and many from this area still have family in germany-I have many Aunts/Uncles/cousins/and one Oma left in germany-I would love to come back and visit-I miss the time I spent there!!!!

 

[daleks]

I only posted this because one of the first threads after Katrina, was someone moaning that there wasn't any aid from other countries. You might be surprised by some of the countries that have contributed.

Foreign aid includes:
EUROPE

BRUSSELS: The European Union and Nato have received official requests from the US for emergency assistance for victims of Katrina. The US has asked for first aid kits, blankets, water trucks and 500,000 prepared meals. Other needs are being identified.

FRANCE: Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said France was ready to offer help, telling TF1 television: "We have rescue teams based in the Caribbean and we are naturally ready to provide aid to the Americans, and that is what we have told them."''

GERMANY: A German Army Airbus landed in Florida on Saturday with 10 tonnes of food rations to be transported to the disaster area; a second plane was being prepared, a Defence Ministry spokesman said.

ITALY: Has offered aid and evacuation specialists. Two military transports have been prepared to fly in amphibious vessels, pumps, generators, tents and personnel. They are awaiting word from US officials.

NETHERLANDS: Will provide teams to inspect dykes and identify victims if the US makes a formal request. It will also send a frigate from Curacao to New Orleans.

RUSSIA: Has offered to help, but still awaits a reply from Washington. It will send heavy transport planes, which can be loaded with helicopters and generators, vital as there is no electricity in the area of the disaster.

SPAIN: Expects to receive a formal request to release gasoline stocks to the US and is prepared to grant it, an Industry Ministry spokesman said.

SWEDEN: The Rescue Authority is on stand-by to provide water purifying equipment, healthcare supplies and emergency shelters if needed.

AUSTRALASIA

AUSTRALIA: Will provide £4million - most going to the American Red Cross.

ASIA

CHINA: China offered £3million in aid for victims ahead of President Hu Jintao's US visit. It is also prepared to send rescue workers and medics.

JAPAN: Will provide £300,000 to help victims and provide emergency supplies if it receives requests for such assistance.

SINGAPORE: Has sent three Chinook helicopters to Fort Polk, Louisiana. They will ferry supplies and make airlifts.

SOUTH KOREA: Has pledged aid and is waiting for a US response.

SRI LANKA: Will donate $25,000 to the American Red Cross.

AMERICAS

CANADA: Three warships and a coast guard vessel are being loaded with supplies and 1,000 personnel to sail to Louisiana.

CUBA: President Fidel Castro offered to fly 1,100 doctors to Houston with 26 tonnes of medicine to treat victims.

MEXICO: Is sending 15 truckloads of water, food and medical supplies via Texas. Mexican navy has offered two ships, two helicopters and 15 amphibious vehicles.

VENEZUELA: President Hugo Chavez has offered to send cheap fuel, humanitarian aid and relief workers to the disaster area.


MIDDLE EAST

IRAN: Accused of being in "axis of evil" by the US, it is prepared to send aid via the Red Crescent. America has helped Iran after disasters such as earthquakes.

ISRAEL: Sending health and defence officials to help coordinate aid.

QATAR: Pledged £55million for victims, the official QNA news agency reported.

SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Refining, a US-based subsidiary of state oil firm Saudi Aramco, will donate £3million to the American Red Cross.

KUWAIT: Is donating £280million of oil products and other humanitarian aid.