Offers Pour In, but the U.S. Is Unprepared
September 8, 2005
By JOEL BRINKLEY and CRAIG S. SMITH
nytimes.com
WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 - Generous offers of aid for Hurricane Katrina victims are pouring in from scores of nations, but in many cases the United States is unprepared to receive the goods.
As a result, the State Department is pressing countries that are offering the use of helicopters, water purification equipment and telecommunications gear, among other items, to provide cash or ready-to-eat meals instead.
"The worst thing we could do, the worst thing, is to take things" and "have them sit on the ground and not be utilized, to have something rot," said Harry K. Thomas, the State Department's executive secretary, who is coordinating with other governments. Many countries are being told that the most useful donation is money, and some European countries are bemused - or frustrated.
"There is a lot of stuff offered, but we are having a problem getting it over," said Claes Thorson, a spokesman at the Swedish Embassy in Washington.
Even with the difficulties, foreign aid is beginning to arrive at or near the Gulf Coast, including ready-to-eat meals from Britain, tents from France, first-aid kits and baby formula from Italy. All told, the State Department said Wednesday, donations from 49 nations or international organizations have been accepted - including $428 million in cash.
The bulk of the cash came from three oil-rich Arab nations. Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates each offered $100 million.
The State Department says 95 countries, half of the world's nations, have promised aid in one form or another. But the department says the government is still evaluating many of the proposals to see if they can actually be used. Among the nations that have pledged assistance are several that receive significant American aid, including Israel, Afghanistan and Iraq.
The United States is more accustomed to giving aid than receiving it, and the Bush administration seemed to have trouble accepting the role reversal, at least at first. Early last week, President Bush said the United States could take care of itself.
"I do expect a lot of sympathy, and perhaps some will send cash dollars," he said. "But this country is going to rise up and take care of it."
As the size of the crisis became apparent, the view changed. But the preparations to receive anything but the simplest forms of aid have not caught up.
Mr. Thomas explained that the United States has no experience with situations like this. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, he said several times, "This is unprecedented."
Last weekend, the State Department sent urgent requests for international aid through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the United Nations and the European Union. At the top of the list was cash. Most of the other items requested were basic goods like food, water, medical supplies and diapers.
When Sweden received the American request, it loaded a Hercules C-130 transport plane with water purification equipment, emergency power generators and components for a temporary cellphone network. The plane has been ready to take off since noon Saturday, but has not been given clearance by Washington.
"We are still waiting for the green light," Victoria Forslund said at the Foreign Ministry in Stockholm. Sean McCormack, the State Department spokesman, said, "If there are any miscommunications on this matter, we want to make it very clear we value their offer of assistance."
Sweden is not the only country that has encountered a problem. France, Germany, India and Taiwan, among others, are awaiting answers to offers. The slow acceptance after the urgent request has only increased the puzzlement of many countries. Mr. Thomas said embassy officers in each country have tried to explain why the aid requests are being handled as they are and insisted "every country has heard back from us."
On Monday, only one plane bearing foreign aid arrived in Little Rock, Ark., a staging area. On Tuesday, 11 planes arrived. Wednesday and Thursday, more planes - from Britain, China, France, Russia, Spain and Israel - are due.
As Europe prepares more supplies, officials say they are beginning to wonder whether the aid is really needed or will ever be used.
"That's our preoccupation right now," said Barbara Helfferich, a spokeswoman for the executive branch of the European Union.
* Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company |
