Hurricane Katrina: United in aid pledge

The United States has officially asked for emergency aid from the European Union in the form of blankets, medicines, food and water. Kuwait is offering US$500 million ($717.56 million) in oil products. Indonesia, Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela are among other nations offering help. Britain was to send 500,000 military ration packs, Germany is to ship 25 tonnes of food and Italy is sending first aid kits, blankets and inflatable rafts. The UAE is sending "urgent humanitarian aid" and Afghanistan has offered US$100,000 in aid. Indonesia has offered to send 40 doctors. Cuba and Venezuela, two countries often singled out for criticism by the US, were among the first to offer humanitarian assistance.

Internet lifeline

New Orleans evacuees and relatives are using the internet to try to track down their missing loved ones. Hundreds of people are using craigslist.org to appeal for news on relatives and friends caught up in the hurricane aftermath. Media sites such as CNN.com have also set up internet help centres, including missing persons lists, resources for survivors and ways to donate and volunteer.

Mother drowned

A New Orleans official burst into tears as he described how a woman eventually drowned after promises she would be rescued. Aaron Broussard recounted how the mother of a friend trapped in St Bernard nursing home called every day to ask when help was coming. "He said, 'Yeah mama, somebody's coming to get you on Tuesday [through to] Friday'. She drowned on Friday," Broussard, president of a parish south of New Orleans, said.

Abandoned by officials

Australian tourists caught up in the nightmare of Katrina felt abandoned by their Government, with many instead rescued from devastated New Orleans by Australian journalists. Fiona Seidel, 27, said she felt abandoned by her Prime Minister John Howard. "I'm a good Australian, I pay my taxes, I work, I own a home, I do the right thing, I don't commit crimes and he pretty much wasn't there for me when I needed him," Seidel told Australian television. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the US had only allowed Australian officials into the city several days after the hurricane struck.

UN assistance accepted

The US has accepted the United Nations' offer of help in the hurricane aftermath. Secretary-General Kofi Annan spoke to President George W. Bush on Friday and reiterated an earlier offer of UN assistance and expertise in the massive effort ahead. The United Nations and its agencies "are ready to provide emergency staff and a wide variety of relief supplies as and when necessary," the UN spokesman said.

Animals survive

Only three of New Orleans 1400 animals died in the wrath of Katrina, officials say. Audubon Zoo has the good fortune of being located on some of the city's highest ground, but it also had a disaster plan for the animals that worked better than the city's plan for humans. The only fatalities so far were two otters and a raccoon, zoo curator Dan Maloney said. Fourteen staffers stayed at the zoo to care for the animals throughout the storm and the aftermath.

Sinking to new depths

Celine Dion has rounded on US authorities over their slow rescue effort in New Orleans, while actor Sean Penn's personal crusade to save victims took on water. Penn, 45, was in the collapsing city to aid stranded victims but the small boat he was piloting to launch a rescue attempt sprang a leak. Canadian Dion, famed for her theme song from the watery epic Titanic, said: "I open the television, there's people still there, waiting to be rescued, and for me it's not acceptable." Dion has donated US$1 million ($1.43 million) to relief efforts.

Waiting for death

An elderly woman has said she's been waiting for death as conditions in her waterlogged room at Economy Inns Motel worsened with no sign of aid. Margaret Pertuit, 85, said her Mississippi motel was hot, fetid and without sanitation. Jimmy Dubreuil, 23, had tried earlier in the week to enter a Dollar Store several kilometres away but says he was chased out by a police officer who pistol-whipped him. "They started telling us we're thieves," he says. "We're not thieves. We just wanted to feed the babies."

Grishams' gift

Best-selling writer John Grisham and his wife usually keep their charitable donations very private. But they've decided to disclose their US$5 million ($7 million) contribution to establish a relief fund to help Mississippians rebuild after the hurricane.

"In these very, very rare circumstances - this tragic time - we hope the gift will get some attention and inspire other people to contribute money and help our fellow Mississippians on the Gulf Coast," said Grisham, a former state legislator.

- AGENCIES