America - You're Not Alone. International Community Wants To Help

Yesterday I started noticing some resentment around the blogsphere about the international community. Perhaps the offers came a tad late and perhaps they came alongside criticism of US policy, but they came nonetheless. It's possible that most nations thought the US, being so rich and powerful, can handle the crisis alone, and it probably can, but the offers are now on the table and help and monies are pledged - it never hurts to accept help from friends :)
My American friends, you're not alone. Everybody wants to help out (we'll leave some crazy extremists out of this).

• International community offers help, prayers - The Pope, Chinese President, Red Cross Societies, EU, Britain, Germany, Russia and Venezuela
  

  Countries from Russia to Venezuela offered assistance for victims of Hurricane Katrina yesterday but said they will wait to hear from the United States what is needed before they send the aid.
  

• Foreign governments line up to help after Katrina - Perhaps most important in the past two articles is Venezuela's offer to send cheap fuel.
  

  "The State Department said offers so far had come from Belgium, Canada, Russia, Japan, France, Germany, Britain, China, Australia, Jamaica, Honduras, Greece, Venezuela, the Organization of American States, NATO, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, South Korea, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
  ...
  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a vocal critic of the United States, offered to send cheap fuel, humanitarian aid and relief workers to the disaster area.

• EDITORIAL: Finding unity in tragedy - This is a newspaper from Thailand. People there didn't forget the US's helping hand. Now, they want to reciprocate.
  

  Thailand, both its government and people, should provide whatever assistance it can to aid the Americans. We still remember when the US government dispatched dozens of aeroplanes and thousands of soldiers, to help tsunami victims in Thailand and other Asian countries. Furthermore, Washington has pledged $950 million out of the estimated US$12 billion promised by all Western donors.
  
  The rest of the world that has benefited from American generosity should show solidarity with Americans who are now picking up the pieces.
  

• And from CNN - World leaders offer sympathy, aid - We'll add France, Australia and Sri Lanka

Categories: Katrina