Today's Date:

Hurricane Katrina Relief

French government and private aid efforts as of September 13, 2005

Washington, September 14, 2005

(see tables in PDF)

French Government:

- (09/06) : 2 CASA aircraft based in Martinique landed in Little Rock with 6.1 tons of freight : 20 25m2 tents, 20 4x4 meter tents, 200 8x6 meter tarps, 1,000 food rations (for 24 hrs)
- (09/08) : an Airbus Beluga aircraft took off from Toulouse carrying some 12.7 tons of emergency equipment. After a stop in London, the plane landed in Mobile, Alabama.
- (09/11) : The French armed forces sent 17 military personnel with expertise in underwater engineering. After landing in Pensacola, they will contribute to the rehabilitation of port facilities, dock clearance and all obstacle removal.
- (09/08) : The “Gendarmerie nationale” proposed sending experts in forensic police.
- (09/09): The French Ministry in cooperation with the Defense Ministry and Airbus offered to send 20-30,000 food rations to be shipped via Air France.

Local communities :

- The city of Orleans proposed to welcome 50 students from Loyola University (Southern University)

- The association of Mayors of Major Metropolitan Areas of France has taken the initiative to create a special solidarity account whose funds will be donated to the Red Cross.

NGOs:

- At the request of the American Red Cross, 18 staffers from the French Red Cross joined the American team in Baton Rouge. The French Red Cross also offered to provide essential supplies for 5000 persons from Guadeloupe.

- NGO “TSF” sent 4 staffers and 200 kg of equipment to help re-establish phone and internet links.

- With the help of Air France, the NGO “CSCF” sent firefighters specialized in natural disaster with a water purification unit and $ 12,000 in medicines. They are helping the firefighters of Baton Rouge. An other NGO, “Pompiers humanitaires français”, provided 5 medical personnel with resuscitation equipment and medicine.

Private Companies :

- Airbus, Air France (see above); Dassault Falcon provided logistical support for the landing of the 2 CASA aircraft in Little Rock.

- Eurocopter USA has provided 2 helicopters (from Gulfport, Mississippi) for search and rescue operations, in liaison with the National Guard.

- Véolia Environnement USA offered hydraulic expertise with water transportation trucks.

- Zodiac has donated $ 250,000 and provided 5 technicians, 20 boats, 20 motors for the navy as well as boats for the Coast Guard.

- Sodexho offered 500,000 meals (in liaison with FEMA and the Red Cross).

- Total has donated $ 1 million to the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund.

- Lafarge supported the levee reconstruction work in New Orleans as well as actions by NGOs.