Europe ‘ready’ as US asks for help

THE US has asked the EU and NATO for emergency assistance, asking for blankets, first aid kits, water trucks and food for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said yesterday that the 25-nation bloc was "ready to contribute to the US efforts aimed at alleviating the humanitarian crisis" in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama the states hardest hit by the hurricane.

The European Commission said its aid co-ordination office would manage aid from European countries and has already drafted a preliminary list of materials, team and equipment being pledged by member states.