Mexico ready to send aid for Katrina relief
As U.S. authorities continue to evacuate areas of the Gulf coast, there are still no Mexicans reported dead.
Mexico offered the United States two Mexican navy ships, 15 amphibious vehicles, two helicopters and 15 heavy trucks on Saturday to help in the relief effort following Hurricane Katrina.
President Vicente Fox said the government had donated US1 million an amount matched by a private Mexican aid foundation for hurricane relief efforts.
“Mexico is a friend (of the United States), and in tough moments, good friends stand together,” Fox said. “You can count on our support.”
Fox also offered health brigades and rescue teams, including the rescue teams that dug survivors out of Mexico City’s devastating 1985 earthquake that killed an estimated 10,000 people.
Fox estimated that about 145,000 Mexicans lived in the broad, multi-state area affected by Katrina, and that about 10,000 lived in New Orleans.
The government has channeled US175,000 to set up consular offices and communications links to help Mexican victims. Fifteen additional consular officials will be dispatched as well.
Meanwhile, Fox has urged Mexican residents to obey U.S. authorities. On Friday, he said that U.S. officials had agreed not to prosecute any undocumented migrants seeking aid.
“We have agreed with the government of the United States that those who were not documented at the time will not be subject to any pressure or persecution whatsoever,” Fox said Friday afternoon.
“In this way, they can receive help from the American authorities, they can approach the authorities to point out what they’ve lost and, above all, to ask for support.”
There have not have been reports of any Mexican deaths, but 87 citizens were reported missing.
The government also plans to provide Mexican victims with food, water and shelter and allowing them to call relatives in Mexico.
The government will also assume the travel costs of those who want to return to Mexico, according to the Foreign Relations Secretariat.
Source: eluniversal.com.mx
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The convoy has "a very high symbolic content," said Javier Oliva, a political scientist at Mexico's National Autonomous University. "This is a very sensitive subject, for historic and political reasons."
Large Mexican flags were taped to many of the 35 olive-green Mexican army trucks and tractor trailers as
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After Hurricane Katrina, Mexican President Vicente Fox urged Mexicans to donate to the relief effort. He also sent an army unit to Texas and a navy ship to Louisiana with aid – the first time in more than 150 years that a Mexican military unit was allowed to
MEXICO CITY - The United States has agreed with a request from Mexico to not prosecute undocumented Mexican migrants affected by Hurricane Katrina who recur to U.S. officials for help, President Vicente Fox said Friday.
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"In this way, they can receive help from the American authorities, they can approach the authorities to point out what they've lost and, above all, to ask for support."
Mexico estimates
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The Marines have landed in Biloxi -- the Mexican Marines.
And Dutch Marines as well.
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"Our President called George Bush and three days later we came here,"
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Shell, in a statement, said it will evacuate around 120 non-essential staff from the eastern part of its Gulf operations as a 'precaution'.
A BP spokesman said it will also evacuate a still undetermined number of workers.
Both companies said the move will not affect their Gulf production.
Katrina came ashore in Florida on Thursday, killing at least three people and leaving about 1.5 mln
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"The people of Pensacola don't need another one. They just don't need
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With healthcare costs in the
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Katrina blasted the state with rain and wind, knocking down trees, tossing debris and wiping out power to more than a million
