I've noticed a really discouraging trend in a few threads where some readers have posted sentiments that they didn't believe foreign aid has been
sent to the USA in it's time of need. The USA is not the only nation that helps others, and perhaps this list of nations (and links) will help shed
some light on the truth of the matter. I am going to quote much of a CNN article in near-entirety since I know many of you don't follow links to read
what's actually there and, more importantly, to allow the contents to be searchable on this forum. I will also include additional nations that were
not listed in this original article.
Governments pledge aid after Katrina
The State Department said offers of help had been received from:
Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kuwait, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Qatar, South Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United
Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.
International organizations also offered help ranging from medical teams to tents to cash donations. They include NATO, the Organization of American
States, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, and the World Health Organization.
NATO said the United States had asked it for food supplies, Reuters reported. "NATO stands ready to continue to support the United States as it
recovers from this natural disaster," the alliance reportedly said in a statement.
Among those offering assistance are India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia, the four countries hardest-hit by the December 26 tsunami.
A State Department official said a needs assessment was being done to determine which offers would be accepted.
The United Nations has offered to help coordinate international relief. Following is a list of some of the aid offered by governments (it is not
complete).
Africa
NIGERIA: has pledged $1 million to hurricane disaster relief, government officials told CNN. "Nigeria will be happy to pledge $1 million to
the hurricane disaster fund in the spirit of brotherhood," Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said.
Asia
AUSTRALIA: "We're going to provide A$10 million ($7.6 million) and the bulk of that money, if not all of it, will go to the American Red
Cross," said Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer. The Australian government said there may be up to 24 Australians trapped in Louisiana in
the aftermath of Katrina.
CHINA: China offered $5 million in aid for victims of Hurricane Katrina which devastated the Gulf Coast ahead of President Hu Jintao's U.S.
visit. If needed, the Chinese government is also prepared to send rescue workers, including medical experts, officials said.
INDIA: is making a $5 million donation to the American Red Cross, Ronen Sen, Indian ambassador to the United States, said Saturday. In
addition, Sen said India was willing to donate essential medicines to the relief effort.
JAPAN: Will provide $200,000 to the American Red Cross to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
Japan will also identify needs in affected regions via the U.S. government and will provide up to $300,000 in emergency supplies such as tents,
blankets and power generators if it receives requests for such assistance, the ministry said.
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Armed Forces, responding to requests by the United States Texas Army National Guard, has sent three Chinook
helicopters to Fort Polk, Louisiana, to help in relief efforts. The government said the Chinooks will help to ferry supplies and undertake airlift
missions.
SOUTH KOREA: Has pledged aid and is waiting for a U.S. response, a government official said. "We have sent our intention to offer recovery
aid," a Foreign Ministry official said on Friday.
SRI LANKA: Will donate $25,000 to the American Red Cross.
TAIWAN: Has pledged more than $3 million to the relief effort.
Americas
CANADA: Offered to help
in any way it can and the navy is preparing a ship full of emergency disaster relief supplies to be sent when a
request comes.
CUBA: Cuban President Fidel Castro offered to fly 1,100 doctors to Houston with 26 tonnes of medicine to treat disaster victims.
MEXICO: The country is sending 15 truckloads of water, food and medical supplies via Texas and the Mexican navy has offered to send two ships,
two helicopters and 15 amphibious vehicles.
VENEZUELA: President Hugo Chavez, a vocal critic of the United States, offered to send cheap fuel, humanitarian aid and relief workers to the
disaster area.
Europe
EUROPEAN UNION: EU countries are ready to give the United States oil if it requests help, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said on Friday.
But British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said this was not what the EU had in mind when it discussed how to help.
BRITAIN: British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said his country stands ready to help the United States
in whatever way it can.
FRANCE: France has offered mobile help from rescue teams in the French Antilles in the Caribbean, including a civil defense detachment of 35
people, tents, camp beds, generators, motor pumps, water treatment units and emergency kits, two CASA cargo aircraft, a ship (Batral Francis Garnier)
and the frigate Ventose with its Panther helicopter, and a hurricane disaster unit. France also has offered assistance from the French mainland,
including several aircraft. In addition, the NGO Telecoms Sans Frontieres, which specializes in restoring phone lines and Internet service in
disasters, is ready to send a team of experts and equipment. Veolia Environment, which has facilities in Louisiana, has offered to make its local
water management resources available.
GERMANY: Has offered mobile units to provide clean water, military hospital facilities and medical aid.
GREECE: has offered two cruise ships to help house thousands of homeless people for several months.
ITALY: Has offered to "immediately" send aid and evacuation specialists, Italy's civil protection unit said. Authorities have prepared two
military transport planes to fly amphibious vessels, pumps, generators, tents and personnel to New Orleans and other areas. They were awaiting word
from U.S. officials, the unit said.
LUXEMBOURG: sending a team of five aid experts, two jeeps, 1000 camp beds and 2000 blankets.
NETHERLANDS: Will provide teams for inspecting dykes and for identifying victims if there is a formal request from the United States. It will
also send a frigate from Curacao to New Orleans shortly to provide emergency assistance, the government said.
PORTUGAL: will lend 2 percent of its strategic oil reserves to the U.S. to help the hurricane-stricken country cope with supply disruptions,
the finance minister said.
RUSSIA: Has offered to help with rescue efforts, but is still awaiting a reply from Washington. "Above all with heavy transport planes, which
can be loaded with helicopters and generators -- as there is no electricity in the area of the catastrophe," Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said.
SPAIN: Expects to receive a formal request to release gasoline stocks to the United States and is prepared to grant it, an Industry Ministry
spokesman said.
SWEDEN: The Rescue Authority said it was on stand-by to supply water purifying equipment, healthcare supplies and emergency shelters if
needed.
Middle East
SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Refining, a Houston-based subsidiary of state oil firm Saudi Aramco, will donate $5 million to the American Red Cross to
support relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
IRAN: Offered to send humanitarian aid to hurricane victims, Reuters reported. "We are prepared to send our contributions to the people
through the Red Crescent," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told Reuters.
IRAQ: offered to donate 200,000 disused army uniforms as clothing aid
ISREAL: sending water, tents, generators, baby formula, diapers and bedding, and a team of 25 volunteers
KUWAIT: Offered $500 million in cash and oil.
QATAR: Offered the United States $100 million to assist in the humanitarian crisis triggered by Hurricane Katrina.
So, the next time you want to bash the rest of the world because you're simply uninformed or are just blindly patriotic, refer back to this article
and remember: the rest of the world
DOES give a # about your nation and cares a lot about your people.
[edit on 5-9-2005 by CatHerder]