It’s startling for the United States to benefit from foreign aid, but Americans have welcomed offers of relief supplies and personnel from foreign countries as the Gulf Coast recovers from the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina.
U.S. officials – long used to sending foreign aid to others – were caught by surprise and have been slow in taking help from abroad. The feds should get cracking so the aid reaches those who need it.
Some aid is from U.S. partners in the so-called G-8 group of industrialized powers (Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy and Russia), as well as longtime allies Greece, South Korea and Mexico. In all, about 95 countries have pledged about $1 billion in assistance.
Even Cuban President Fidel Castro – estranged from Washington for almost half a century – has offered to send 1,500 doctors to the stricken areas. True, Castro rebuffed American offers when hurricanes swept his island, but Katrina is a humanitarian challenge that could even improve relations between neighbors. A few Cuban physicians might help in treating Spanish-speaking victims.
The U.K. has begun airlifting 500,000 ration packs to the Gulf Coast states. Germany sent 25 tons of food, and Italy sent MREs. France flew in tents and blankets.
Greece will provide two cruise ships to house evacuees (although some are understandably hesitant to board anything that floats). India is sending $5 million, and South Korea says it will donate $30 million, including an initial shipment of 100 tons of goods from diapers to wheelchairs, plus a 40-member rescue team.
Washington has sometimes seemed overwhelmed: Sweden had a C-130 transport plane with a water purification system and other supplies ready for several days while awaiting word from U.S. authorities. Relief from Poland, Norway, Austria and several Asian countries were also delayed.
Canadian naval ships and coast guard vessels headed for the Gulf states to lend a hand, Canadian helicopters flew rescue missions, and Air Canada helped airlift evacuees to cities of refuge.
A Mexican army convoy bearing water treatment equipment, mobile kitchens and food supplies entered the U.S. Thursday – “an act of solidarity between two peoples who are brothers,” said Mexican presidential spokesman Ruben Aguilar.
To all these countries, we send heartfelt thanks.
