Swedish response to Hurricane Katrina

Swedish response to Hurricane Katrina

Sweden received on September 1, 2005, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a general plea for disaster aid from the United States. The Swedish Rescue Services Agency made a formal offer of help through the Swedish Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the Swedish government gave the Rescue Service Agency clearance to give assistance.

On September 2, awaiting a formal request from the U.S. State Department, the Rescue Service Agency prepared a Hercules cargo aircraft filled with three complete GSM systems, first aid kits, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, generators, and 2 large water purification plants. The capacity of the water plants would provide 15,000 people with 7 litres water per day. Included was a five member expertise team.

Having yet to receive a formal request, the Swedish agency scheduled the Hercules to leave on September 4 but on Sunday the U.S. declined the aid, saying it was currently unable to accept foreign aid packages. However, the U.S. State Department had not formally declined the Scandinavian country's help. The Swedish Rescue Services Agency stated that they would have the aircraft ready for immediate deployment upon receiving a green light from the Bush Administration.

On September 7 Harry Thomas, coordinator for foreign aid at the U.S. State Department, publicly denied reports that the Rescue Service Agency was waiting with a plane on the ground in Sweden for flight clearance in the U.S., and had not heard from Washington. Claes Thorson, a spokesman at the Swedish Embassy in Washington said, "There is a lot of stuff offered, but we are having a problem getting it over," [http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/JFUA-6G23NN?OpenDocument] [http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/09/07/news/relief.php]

On September 12 the Hercules plane left Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport for the United States, carrying a cargo of three Ericsson GSM network systems. A team of technical consultants to help with the aid package was also provided.

ee also

*Hurricane Katrina disaster relief
*International response to Hurricane Katrina

External links

* [http://www.srv.se/ Swedish Rescue Services Agency]
* [http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=2008&date=20050902 The Local: "Sweden offers disaster assistance to US", September 2]
* [http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=2013&date=20050902 The Local: "Carl Gustaf: US catastrophe is a wake-up call", September 2]
* [http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=2018&date=20050904&PHPSESSID=95f1536e8d02bb7fe4336c46efe2f2b5 The Local: "US declines Swedish aid - for now", September 4]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5261970,00.html Guardian Unlimited: "Nations Await Answer to Katrina Aid Offers", September 7]
* [http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/09/07/news/relief.php International Herald Tribune: "Scores of nations offer their help", September 8]
* [http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=2067&date=20050912 The Local: "Sweden sends phone equipment to New Orleans", September 12]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • International response to Hurricane Katrina — Many countries and international organizations offered the United States relief aid in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Contents A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z …   Wikipedia

  • Swedish Rescue Services Agency — The Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRSA), or Räddningsverket (SRV), is the central supervisory government authority for the rescue services in Sweden. It promotes emergency management practice that improves disaster prevention and response, and… …   Wikipedia

  • Humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake — The humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was prompted by one of the worst natural disasters of modern times. On 26 December 2004, the earthquake, which struck off the northwest coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra,… …   Wikipedia

  • Sweden–United States relations — Swedish–American relations are the transatlantic relations between Sweden and the United States, and between the Swedish and American people in particular.Sweden and the United States have had strong ties since the 18th century. The United States …   Wikipedia

  • October 2005 — Portal:Current events << October 2005 >> S M T W …   Wikipedia

  • Cnut the Great — For other people named Canute of Denmark, see Canute of Denmark. Canute and Cnut redirect here. For other people of these names, see Knut. Cnut the Great Coin of Cnut the Great from the British Museum …   Wikipedia

  • Euro-American relations — are the bilateral relations between the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA).Euro American relations are primarily concerned with trade policy. The EU is, inter alia, a fully unified trade bloc and this, together with… …   Wikipedia

  • Economic Affairs — ▪ 2006 Introduction In 2005 rising U.S. deficits, tight monetary policies, and higher oil prices triggered by hurricane damage in the Gulf of Mexico were moderating influences on the world economy and on U.S. stock markets, but some other… …   Universalium

  • performing arts — arts or skills that require public performance, as acting, singing, or dancing. [1945 50] * * * ▪ 2009 Introduction Music Classical.       The last vestiges of the Cold War seemed to thaw for a moment on Feb. 26, 2008, when the unfamiliar strains …   Universalium

  • Dates of 2005 — ▪ 2006 January This is a unique case of a people under occupation being asked to hold free and fair elections when they themselves are not free.… It s an important internal test, and I think it s a turning point. Palestinian legislator Hanan… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”