Posted on 09/04/2005 9:24:32 AM PDT by Embraer2004
Mexico ready to send aid for Katrina relief
As U.S. authorities continue to evacuate areas of the Gulf coast, there are still no Mexicans reported dead.
Wire services September 04, 2005
Mexico offered the United States two Mexican navy ships, 15 amphibious vehicles, two helicopters and 15 heavy trucks on Saturday to help in the relief effort following Hurricane Katrina.
President Vicente Fox said the government had donated US1 million an amount matched by a private Mexican aid foundation for hurricane relief efforts.
"Mexico is a friend (of the United States), and in tough moments, good friends stand together," Fox said. "You can count on our support."
Fox also offered health brigades and rescue teams, including the rescue teams that dug survivors out of Mexico City's devastating 1985 earthquake that killed an estimated 10,000 people.
Fox estimated that about 145,000 Mexicans lived in the broad, multi-state area affected by Katrina, and that about 10,000 lived in New Orleans.
The government has channeled US175,000 to set up consular offices and communications links to help Mexican victims. Fifteen additional consular officials will be dispatched as well.
Meanwhile, Fox has urged Mexican residents to obey U.S. authorities. On Friday, he said that U.S. officials had agreed not to prosecute any undocumented migrants seeking aid.
"We have agreed with the government of the United States that those who were not documented at the time will not be subject to any pressure or persecution whatsoever," Fox said Friday afternoon.
"In this way, they can receive help from the American authorities, they can approach the authorities to point out what they've lost and, above all, to ask for support."
There have not have been reports of any Mexican deaths, but 87 citizens were reported missing.
The government also plans to provide Mexican victims with food, water and shelter and allowing them to call relatives in Mexico.
The government will also assume the travel costs of those who want to return to Mexico, according to the Foreign Relations Secretariat.
I am sure the "aid workers" will never leave. Sarcasm. I think this is a pretty nice gesture from a pretty poor nation.
That's nice. His nation's citizens are costing us tens of billions of dollars per year, and he dontate $1 million U.S.
I don't give it seven days until Vincente is hawking some action on behalf of his citizens illegaly in the U.S.
Of course, nobody knows for sure since 90% of these are "undocumented".
OK, I'll buy that, if for everyone who is not documented YOU will pay for a bus ticket back to YOUR place. DEAL ?
If Mexico really wants to help they could try controlling the border in stead of sending more people.
I hate to say this, but those illegals will rebuild these areas...just like they are rebuilding Florida right now.
Mexican assistance consists of tens of thousands of illegals to repopulate the area. Maybe we can give them squatters' rights.
But thanks for the gesture we appreciate it.
Let's just send all the refuges to Mexico. Put the up in Cancun hotels. Let's see if Fox really cares.
Hey Fox...call the illegals back, you puke!
Good. Maybe Fox can set up a shelter in Mexico for illegals, um evacuees.
If Mexico took their illegals back it would more than cover any money they might send this way.
Tell FOX to keep his money and spend it on his own people and keep them at home to do so.
What we should do is take those cruise ships, fill them with the people from the shelters, park those cruise ships off the coast of LA and let those people go to work each day from the cruise ship to clean up and rebuild. We don't need to import Mexicans to do the work. Those people need jobs, they need housing etc. Work for shelter.
Drat.
How about some gasoline, PEMEX?
I really think we need to humbly thank everyone that is assisting the victims of this disaster. They are doing the right thing!
Well, the hurricane was in the Gulf of MEXICO. A lot of the capacity here was damaged too. And don't underestimate Mexican relief. This country has a crappy army when it comes to "breaking things and hurting people", but it remains a popular institution in Mexico mostly because it does a damn good job of disaster relief (something we have a lot of down here). OK, so folks might eat a lot of tacos and beans for a few days, but the Mexicans know how to feed folks in an emergency.
AND... there is a private group here in Mexico City, the "Mole Men of Tlatelolco" who, alas, are going to be needed. This group was originally volunteers from the Tlatelolco housing complex which collapsed in the 1975 earthquake, and has since then become THE go-to guys for recovering the dead after massive disasters. Given that these guys are volunteers, and not a government agency, AND they are not rich people, who leave their own families (and jobs) to risk their lives for complete strangers, I wouldn't be so quick to attack people who offer you help.
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