European help on its way

[tocqueville]

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said France would send its entire stock of emergency supplies, including tents, blankets, cooking equipment and camp-beds, prepositioned on the French Caribbean island of Martinique for just such an eventuality. Douste-Blazy said one shipment would leave from Fort-de-France within 24 hours and another within 48 hours.

Britain was to send 500,000 military ration packs to the devastated regions, the ministry of defence said Sunday.The armed forces meal boxes -- which include a 24-hour food supply -- will be flown to the US early Monday to help feed the homeless.

Germany shipped 25 tonnes of food aid to the flood-stricken regions over the weekend, the defence ministry said Sunday.

An Italian military plane was expected to leave Sunday for the United States with first aid kits for 15,000 people, as well as infant food, blankets, pumps, water-purifying devices and inflatable rafts.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050904/pl_afp/usweatherworldaid_050904221111