World Response

[GypsySorcerer]

US accepts UN hurricane aid
17 minutes ago

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The United States has accepted an offer of UN assistance following the Hurricane Katrina disaster which has devastated New Orleans and other communities along the US Gulf coast, a UN spokesman said.

He said in a statement that a UN Coordination team is in Washington "consulting with government officials on how best the UN can complement the United States own emergency efforts.

The team is working at the newly established USAID Hurricane Katrina Operations Center, where offers of international assistance are being coordinated.

"The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Food Program, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the High Commissioner for Refugees are ready to provide emergency staff and a wide variety of relief supplies as and when necessary," said the statement.

Dozens of countries around the world, from allies like Britain, to longtime US adversaries such as Cuba and Venezuela, have offered support in the hurricane relief effort.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050904...usweatheraidun

[Mari]

Originally Posted by irishgrl

Those that HAVE pledged help are showing a true humanitarian spirit.
But overall, a pretty tepid response considering the US has poured billions of dollars into the rest of the world's countries, for various reasons.

You're quick to jump to conclusions, too quick.
You don't know about other countries that weren't mentioned in that list. I know what my country has offered, expertise (we know a lot about dykes, duh) and at least one fregat on it's way already. Not trying to pet myself on the back here, but if my country as an example wasn't in that list, I bet a lot of other countries' offers to help weren't in there either. (For whatever reason. I bet it was just a quick summary).
Point of critique heard somewhere (Dutch news I think), those offers of help were very early and quick, but there was no response from the US at all.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Mari

Point of critique heard somewhere (Dutch news I think), those offers of help were very early and quick, but there was no response from the US at all.

The US only started responding to aid offers around Friday, days after this **** went down!

[michelle2677]

Originally Posted by Mari

Point of critique heard somewhere (Dutch news I think), those offers of help were very early and quick, but there was no response from the US at all.

which would someone tell me WHY that is?? guess they just figured they could take care of it themselves.

that worked out well for them....

[Serrart]

I hadn't had time to comment on this before, but it really makes me feel surreal and helpless, seeing what's going on in another part of the world while and I have to cope with such futile issues right now.
By the way all my positive thoughts to Americans who had and still have to deal with this tragedy.

Romy

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by dissention

The US only started responding to aid offers around Friday, days after this **** went down!

Condi had to buy shoes.

[Brwn_eyes0511]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

Condi had to buy shoes.

And you wonder why Nancy and myself, along with others...aren't taking one thing you guys say too seriously?!?

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by Lux

Oh please, the US government has done f*ck all, how can you condemn other nations? I doesn't list it there but I believe Australia sent troops, just to echo Mari's point. The issue is not donations, they've had plenty of offers from all over your country and abroad, but these are useless if they will not be allowed to help.

Just like with the tsuami hey?

Actually, Lux, Australia and New Zealand WERE mentioned as offering help, so dont be so quick to put ME down. As I said, overALL, a pretty tepid response.
Although, to be fair, as Mari said, some countries may not have been mentioned (why? I dont know...) and as was also mentioned, the US was slow in responding (even MORE perplexing) And if you read my post, you saw that I had nothing good to say about this administration, the Monkey boy is a farce. all his minions are scum. We got stuck with these dirtbags even tho they didnt legitmately win an election either time!

If the fault lies with Bush and Co refusing or ignoring aid, then shame on them.(in fact shame on them anyway) if not, then shame on the rest of the world.

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by Mari

You're quick to jump to conclusions, too quick.

actually, considering the time lapse, I dont think Im too quick at all. The world pointed fingers at Bush and Co after the Tsunami for HIS late response....looks like its about the same to me from other parts of the world.

Again, if there was some mention of a nation's contribution that didnt make the national news, then my apologies to that nation or its inhabitants. I get my news online which is basically instantaneous. There has been no news feed that I can see that mentioned YOUR country Mari...sorry. And as I said before, my thanks to all the countries that ARE helping.

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

And you wonder why Nancy and myself, along with others...aren't taking one thing you guys say too seriously?!?

well, that looked like a joke to me...

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

The US only started responding to aid offers around Friday, days after this **** went down!

That is not really true. FEMA acted on Saturday and Sunday prior to the storm and acted fairly well in that they helped evacuated thousands to the dome and fed them, etc. They also rescued thousands in MS and NOLA prior to the following Friday. Where they screwed up was in the follow up. There was no reason whatsoever for the second round of supplies of food and medicine not to get there prior to Friday, which was five days later. That anyone even dares to defend that five day lapse of time is laughable, esp. considering even the Pres. of the U.S. does not defend it and hundreds of private citizens and public entities have said they offered help as early as Monday and FEMA refused it.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

And you wonder why Nancy and myself, along with others...aren't taking one thing you guys say too seriously?!?

Well, if you would actually site to a fact that is actually that - a fact - you might stand a chance at more credibility I mean you say all of this stuff and then when it is repeatedly disproved by the actual events, you never admit to being wrong and instead site to Ann Coulter, who would not know a fact if it hit her in the face

said in a nice way and not in a finger snapping in your face kind of way.

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by ReFleetwoodMac

A joke? Well that's no reason to not take someone seriously.

exactamundo. go to the head of the class!

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by Lux

I was pointing out how basic and non-encompassing that list was. This disaster was not a world event, this was not like the tsunami or earthquake in Iran. The world cannot possibly have been expected to pour money into the hurricane relief like it was for the tsunami. Aside from the fact that the original disaster was not on that scale, the country in question is also far more capable (or so they told us) than some Indonesian provence. The level of disaster and need for aid that has come in the aftermath is man made, specifically by the country's administration and so the fact that the world response was not like for other events cannot be a reflection on the world.

No, the world is not shamed for this, not any way you twist it. Look at it this way, when a cyclone hits northern Australia, we do not expect an out-pouring from all the world's nations and we don't not say they are shamed for not doing so. We certainly appreciate plenty of aid but do not pretend that we've been hit by one of the world's greatest disasters. Well, I hope I misinterpretted because there is no way the world is to be shamed for this.

Um...when 9/11 occurred, the WORLD responded......and the death toll here is comparable....so I dont think its out of line to wonder who our friends are thank you very much. Its not the cause of the disaster but the toll on human life that is at issue.

But, you are correct. The US should be able to take care of its own...or would be able to, had we not committed so much of our resources to an unnecessary war halfway around the globe...personally, I think we should concentrate on our HOME issues and let the rest of the world take care of itself. and we do the same. I have NO problem with that.

But: in light of the fact that all the rest of the world EXPECTS the US to ante up, I think it only fair to see who is willing to help now that WE need it. You dont have to agree. In fact, I'd probably have a coronary if you did.

[Brwn_eyes0511]

Originally Posted by Lux

I mean, Castro is offering aid to a country that has a habit of invading his.

Now what a true hero he has turned out to be!