International Aide

[nadinbrzezinski]

we need it, that is obvioous, but the Administration, FOR POLITICAL REASONS will nto accept it

So here is what I want you to do... I want you to call your delegation and explain to them we need the help.

I have the qualifications so I can use the I have worked disasters before, but I will give you the procedure the ARC needs to learn... assumng it is not even in the books

The national office has to place a call to Geneva... once that is done, the ICRC releases a general call up to all national societies, which will trigger teams (some red cross, some national) as well as pledge drives and relief sopplies.

Also this triggers the ICRC technical teams, which have experience doing this, (El Salvador comes to mind), in both housing and reconstruction.

But the ARC needs to call, and for that we need to put pressure on the executive.

Oh and also WRITE letters to the papers

[CrispyQ]

1. Arghh!

I keep reading posts here that boosh has denied aid that has been offered, but no one provides a link.

Please, if you have one, provide one.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. If he had not you would see Canadian Air Force

on scene and British Teams on scene and the IDF on scene, and the French and German Dog teams on scene, as well as ICRC technical experts... they are not there, that is telling

For the record I used to do disaster work in a developing world country, and I know what Int Aide looks like... and there is none... ... oh and this was posted earlier

A Canadian reader of Daily Kos reports as follows:

"On tonight's news, CTV (Canadian TV) said that support was offered from Canada. Planes are ready to load with food and medical supplies and a system called "DART" which can provide fresh water and medical supplies is standing by. Department of Homeland Security as well as other U.S. agencies were contacted by the Canadian government requesting permission to provide help. Despite this contact, Canada has not been allowed to fly supplies and personnel to the areas hit by Katrina. So, everything here is grounded. Prime Minister Paul Martin is reportedly trying to speak to President Bush tonight or tomorrow to ask him why the U.S. federal government will not allow aid from Canada into Louisiana and Mississippi. That said, the Canadian Red Cross is reportedly allowed into the area.

Canadian agencies are saying that foreign aid is probably not being permitted into Louisiana and Mississippi because of "mass confusion" at the U.S. federal level in the wake of the storm."

[elare]

3. theglobeandmail.com

There's an article about this right on their front page

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/

--snip--

Canadian Forces are capable of helping out in emergency relief by delivering goods and generating drinking water among other things, he said. He also said the Disaster Assistance Response Team would also be ready to respond.

"And I told them this. That whenever there is a need, wherever there is a need be it a nearby niche capability or augmentation to an existing capability they have but to ask and we in the Canadian Forces would have it rolling or sailing or flying southward as quickly as possible," he told reporters Thursday.


--snip--

Gen. Hillier said that if his U.S. counterparts need help, they will ask. He said the Canadian Forces are building contingency plans to deploy relief help. "In short, we want to be ready to go as soon as any need is identified that we may be able to fill," he said.

He said he also made the offer to the U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins

--snip--

[UncleSepp]

5. Time for them to come anyway

We've done it, on rare occasions, but we've done it. We've gone into countries that are allowing their own people to die, whether we're allowed or not.

They need to come anyway.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. They can't not until certain steps are taken

I am not kidding you... I have done this... as an Emergency Worker, and for me it was easy to go around my Executive, border town , news channel doing a drive on the other side of the border... but in this case, DART cannot move off that tarmack until we give them permision...

I hate politics but that is international law

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. For the record the DART team is amazing

I just mentioned this to Boxer's offce, they did not know, they will raise this issue

[elare]

8. All congressmen/senators need to know about this.

Please, please, please call, fax or email your elected officials and demand that this assistance be accepted. How can this administration just let all of those people suffer and die?

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. I just got off the pnone withj Boxer's aide

heck I even gave them some ideas how to do an end run around the executive

[Liberty Belle]

4. Yes, I'd like to see the link, too.