Today's Date:

Hurricane Katrina

Press briefing given by Philippe Douste-Blazy, Minister of Foreign Affairs (excerpts)

Paris, September 5, 2005

THE MINISTER – I want to tell you that we have offered our aid to the American authorities in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, doing so as soon as the disaster was announced. They have confirmed to us that they welcomed our offer of assistance. I spoke to Condoleezza Rice on the phone last Friday. At my request, the operational emergency humanitarian aid group met yesterday in the presence of an American representative, the first secretary from the United States embassy in France, and of a French Red Cross representative so that we could be clear about the requests and what is wanted in the way of medical aid.

So we were due to have the answer very soon. I can already talk to you about the proposals we are making:

First of all, I confirmed that we were ready to make available to the United States all the prepositioned humanitarian supplies in Martinique designed for these types of emergency situation: tents, blankets, tarpaulins, cooking kits, camp beds, etc. As soon as the American authorities tell us exactly where the plane can land, an Airbus Industrie Beluga will be able to take off from Toulouse, tomorrow, and pick up further supplies in the United Kingdom; in principle it should land tomorrow in the United States. At the moment we're waiting for the American authorities to tell us exactly where it should land.

The Beluga will be carrying ten tonnes of freight: nine 25m2 tents, 50 4x4m tents, 40 rolls of tarpaulin, 170 8x12m tarpaulins, 300 folding jerry cans, cooking kits, etc.

We've also offered to take supplies on board two Casa planes: tents, tarpaulins, 1,000 24- hour ration packs. These two planes are ready to leave Martinique as soon as we receive the information we've now been requesting for 24 hours on where the two planes should land.

Our ambassador in Washington is taking steps to get the authorities now to tell us this destination as soon as possible. The freight is to be escorted by four Army and sécurité civile (emergency services) personnel, who will be self-sufficient for five days, with the mission of accompanying the supplies and finding out what else might be needed.

The French Red Cross has said that it was making 12 logisticians available to the American Red Cross, and finally the French water company Véolia has said that it was in a position, from its Houston base, to offer water tankers.

As regards French nationals, around 25 have been located, of whom 10 have been evacuated to Houston and San Antonio and 14 to Bâton Rouge. Around a hundred of our nationals have also got directly in touch with the consular services or their families. Since yesterday, two consular teams have been in New Orleans and southern Mississippi to speed up the searches and in particular to locate and give assistance to any French and other European nationals requesting it.

(...)

THE MINISTER – We are keeping constantly in touch with our missions so that we can pass on any news we get. This is why I said that around a hundred French nationals have contacted the consulate, and I'd like to ask French nationals who are today safe and well to do likewise at the earliest opportunity so that we can reassure their families as quickly as possible.

THE MINISTER – Indeed, it's very difficult to say. (...)./.