UN offers to help overwhelmed US cope with Katrina

Reuters ^ | Thu Sep 1, 2005 9:14 PM ET7 | By Irwin Arieff

[guitarnick40]

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations on Thursday offered to help the United States provide disaster relief to the victims of Hurricane Katrina as the storm's devastation challenged the U.S. authorities' ability to cope.

While the United States is the country best prepared to deal with such a disaster, "the sheer size of this emergency makes it possible that we can supplement the American response with supplies from other countries, or with experience we have gained in other relief operations," U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said.

"I know we will not be alone. We will be happy to work with other parts of the international community to support the efforts of President Bush and his administration, the American Red Cross, and other U.S. relief organizations who have been our partners in the past," Annan said in a statement.

[guitarnick40]

Thanks but no thanks Kofi. After all, what are you going to do, provide us assistance with our own money? We have no oil to trade for food, and we have no tribal women to abuse...

[Mo1]

Gee .. thanks UN, why don't you go start with NO

[coconutt2000]

U.N. wants two things:

1) U.S. to pay administrative costs for their part of the relief effort
2) Credit for helping

Kofi wants one thing:

1) Something other than the Oil for Food scandal to put on his resumé

[KneelBeforeZod]

whats the big deal? they just need to land a few UN troops in the area to start the recovery effort

[NRA2BFree]

Oh yea! They're gonna give us some of our money back. Now, that's a first. :o)

[IronMan04]

Actually, the UNHCR has developed great policies to deal with Refugee Flows. It is perhaps the best or only good thing the UN can do.

As part of their policy they interview all refugees and find their skill sets. From their they put people to work in the Refugee camps and work towards a resolution to return them to their state of orgin. This policy must be done here or Texas will be overwhelmed.

[vbmoneyspender]

Actually, the UNHCR has developed great policies to deal with Refugee Flows

You're joking right?

[vbmoneyspender]

Child Refugee Sex Scandal

[IronMan04]

No, The UNHCR programs have worked. As part of their effort they can predict a famine related refugee flow two years before it occurs and in the open camps integrate the refugees into the economy and participate in the local markets buying agricultural goods. The entire time they work towards finding conditions where the refugees can return to their homeland.

Unfortunately, in the US all these people will be put on welfare and never leave Houston to return to New Orleans.

[Aquakat]

Want to help>

GET THE HELL OUT OF NY

[IronMan04]

I am not saying the UNHCR is free of problems and they should be resolved. Furthermore, I would not condemn the current relief effort if some victims are sexually abused not do I condemn the entire Catholic Church do to their sex scandals.

[tina07]

they aren't refugees per se, displaced might fit better, even though refugee is all over the place to describe them; and secondly many are probably already on welfare, they'll just switch it to whatever state they stay in. Not condoning it at all, just figuring that's how it will go.

[tina07]

one other thing, right now there is no New Orleans to return to either.

[guitarnick40]

As a matter of fact you are correct about the refugee label. Alot of the displaced people are mad about that designation, and I do agree with you & them, they are just temporarily displaced.

We don't have "refugees" in the US, (only in the UN Building.) lol

[tina07]

we both must be watching Foxnews, that's where I heard that too, and it's true technically, didn't care for the word from the getgo.

[IronMan04]

You are correct. In International Law a Person must cross a border fleeing natural disaster, war or oppression to be a refugee.

But yes they do have jobs. I have a house full of people from NOLA who have lost their jobs and very likely their homes.
They will need to file for unemployment.

[vbmoneyspender]

Furthermore, I would not condemn the current relief effort if some victims are sexually abused

You might not, but I think most people would if they found out American aid workers were sexually abusing the very children they were supposed to be helping.

[guitarnick40]

Yes Tina, that's where I saw it too...And Iron Man, we dont have refugees but we sure have too many Illegal Immigrants for sure.

Seems to me we have alot of work to be done in New Orleans and it's surrounding area. If some or all of the illegals volunteer to rebuild the city, maybe we can give them amnesty for pitching in, just those that participate though.

Just a thought.

[tina07]

bet filing will take forever with all that's going on, hopefully monetary relief won't come too late. I know when my husband was disabled for 8 months from a head-on collision, we applied for rental assistance, just temporary help, we were approved a year and a half later, thanks bunches New Jersey, we didn't need it by then. Hope people fare better, but unfortunately not likely.