Brussels, Belgium – European nations on Monday prepared aid teams, food rations, water pumps and even cruise ships to help U.S. regions hit by Hurricane Katrina.
Countries large and small have offered aid – from tiny Luxembourg’s beds and blankets to a half-million food rations from Germany and Britain.
Greece put on standby two cruise ships to house refugees, and Sweden has offered aircraft to help distribute aid shipments, said Barbara Helfferich, a European Union spokeswoman.
Helfferich said an EU aid coordinator would go to the United States soon to help ensure aid goes to victims of Katrina in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. U.S. authorities made a rare request for help from Europe over the weekend, asking for anything from diapers and baby formula to forklifts and veterinarian supplies.
Aid flights from overseas will be directed to Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas and unloaded there.
The material will then be sent to the affected regions in the South, said Air Force Lt. Jon Quinlan.
The first plane including food rations arrived Monday from Britain and was unloaded in preparation for the seven-hour drive to New Orleans.
Helfferich said more EU pledges had come in Sunday, including promises to ship power generators, cots, tents, first-aid kits and Greece’s offer of ships.
The NATO alliance also has started to coordinate shipments of food, drinking water, generators and tarpaulins through its disaster-coordination center.
