International response to Hurricane Katrina

September 5, 35 military divers were poised to depart by air Sunday from Halifax and Esquimalt, B.C., for the New Orleans area.September 4, On the request from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Canada send thousands of beds, blankets, surgical gloves and dressings and other medical supplies. On September 2 the Government of Canada announced it was sending three warships along with a Coast Guard vessel, and three Sea King helicopters to the area. Over 1,000 personnel are involved in the operation, including engineers and navy divers. The Canadian Heavy Urban Search and Rescue out of Vancouver has been in Louisiana since September 1, due to security they started their mission on Sept 3. Ontario Hydro, Hydro-Québec, and Manitoba Hydro, along with other electrical utilities, have crews set to go to the affected areas. On September 2 Air Canada participated along with U.S. member airlines of the Air Transport Association, in a voluntary airline industry initiative to support rescue and relief operations.

Concrete help was refused by the USA at first, but on 2 September, Condoleezza Rice said that the US authorities would assess the situation and contact French authorities accordingly. On September 4, US authorities formally requested French assistance. France offered disaster relief stocks prepositioned in Martinique (600 tents, around 1000 beds, 60 electrogenic groups, 3 pumps, 3 water purification stations, 1000 folding jerricanes and other material). A 35-person team of the Sécurité civile (Civil defence) from Guadeloupe and Martinique is ready, and a 60-man "catastrophe intervention" aeromobile detachment could be ferried from mainland in a short time. The Ministry of Defence offers 2 planes already in the zone and 6 more from mainland France, and two ships of the French Navy (probably the BATRAL Francis Garnier or Champlain, and the frigate Ventôse) and a 20-person team of emergency medical specialists. The non-governmental organisation Télécoms sans frontières and the company Véolia environnement have offered aid in communications and water management, respectively. On September 7 [13], the Ministry for Foreign Affairs stated that an Airbus Beluga from Toulouse with 12,7 tonnes of supplies is flying to Mobile, after a brief stop in the UK to load more food. 2 Casa airplanes from Martinique have landed in Little Rock, ferrying tents, covers and 1000 rations of food for 24 hours. [14] [15] [16] [17]

Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas received almost 196 Mexican troops, 14 truckloads of water, a mobile surgical unit, 45 military vehicles, 3 tons of purified water, and more than 250 tons of food, bottled water, canned food, disposable diapers and medical supplies. The Mexican Government has sent USD 1 million through the Mexican Red Cross which collected an additional million, as well as 200 tons of food delivered in five airplanes from the Mexican Air Force by another Mexican Government body. The Mexican Navy has sent two ships, 385 troopers, eight all-terrain vehicles, seven amphibious vehicles, two tankers, two helicopters, radio communication equipment, medical personnel and 296 tons of food as well. The state of Jalisco also sent four experts in disaster, while the Federal government offer to sent expert teams in epidemiology and to cover the costs of returning any Mexican national back to Mexico.

Royal Netherlands Navy Frigate Hr.Ms. Van Amstel has arrived from the Netherlands Antilles. The frigate is filled with supplies and has helicopters on board that can be used in rescue actions. Further, The Netherlands have sent experts on the subject of water containment and dikes, identification teams and pumps to deliver clean drinking water, F-16s and divers from the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps.

One of the first countries to offer assistance. Up to four jets were placed on standby at the airport Ramenskoe near Moscow as early as August 30, including heavy Ilyushin Il-76-TDs with special evacuation equipment, medical equipment, a water-cleansing system, a rescue helicopter BK-117 and two special cars; and a passenger IL-62, which would bring 10 coordinators and 50 rescuers, as well as 6 tons of drinking water. On September 6 the Bush administration gave its approval [42]. The jets are scheduled to land at Little Rock, Arkansas [43].

Three Singaporean CH-47 Chinook helicopters and thirty-eight RSAF personnel from a training detachment based in Grand Prairie, Texas have been assisting in relief operations since 1 September. They had so far ferried about 700 evacuees and hauled tons of supplies in 39 sorties on 4 September. One more CH-47 Chinook helicopter is on the way to aid in relief efforts. [45] [46]

Sweden offered to send medical and technical aid, and has been on standby since September 2 to send a Hercules cargo jet filled with three complete GSM systems, first aid kits, blankets, Ready-to-eat meals, generators, 2 heavy water purification plants, as well as water sanitation experts. On September 4 the U.S. State Department declined the aid, saying it was currently unable to accept foreign aid packages. The Swedish Rescue Services Agency has stated that they have the aircraft ready for immediate deployment upon receiving a green light from the Bush Administration. [50] [51]

• Red Cross
• Red Crescent