As of 9 September 2005, several countries and international organisations have offered aid despite significant sources of conflict or recent political disagreement with the U.S.A. Enmity with the U.S.A. ranges from past and possibly future violent conflict (e.g. Cuba and Iran) to diplomatic ice mainly due to the Iraq war (e.g. France and Spain and hence the EU despite splits within that organisation) to mutual dislike and distrust (e.g. China and Mexico).

The summary is:

· China
Offered $5 million aid and rescue workers, including medical experts.

· Cuba
Offered more than 1,000 doctors and over 26 tons of medical supplies. On 1 September 2005, Castro held one minute of silence for Hurricane Katrina’s victims and then the Cuban parliament passed a resolution attacking President Bush and the American government.

· EU (European Union)
The U.S.A. officially requested emergency assistance from the EU in the form of first aid kits, blankets, water trucks, and prepared meals which were soon delivered. The EU executive Commission’s Civil Protection Mechanism is coordinating member states’ offers, which included offers beyond that which was requested. Romania, not yet an EU member, is providing medical teams as part of the EU’s assistance. BBC comments “The US may not really need baby food from Italy or divers from Belgium, but its call for European and international help shows that, after the divisions over Iraq, it has now realised that even superpowers need friends.”

· France
Provided tents, generators, and water purifying plants amongst other materials. A French NGO offered to send a team to repair phone lines and internet service and a French company offered to assist with water supply.

· Germany
The German environment minister wrote an opinion piece on 30 August which blamed the American President’s stance on global warming for increasing disaster effects. On 31 August and 1 September, the German government offered aid, including 25 tonnes of food, emergency shelter, and services for medicine, transportation, water treatment capabilities, and search and rescue.

· India
Offered $5 million plus medicine, a medical team, and water purification systems.

· Iran
Offered 20 million barrels of crude oil, although sanctions might inhibit delivery.

· Mexico
Sending $1 million, water, food, medical supplies, vehicles, and equipment. Much more was offered than was accepted. The Mexican army delivered supplies, crossing into American territory.

· Russia
Sent medical supplies, food, tents, blankets, drinking water, and portable electricity generators.

· Spain
As part of the International Energy Agency’s plan, Spain is providing 70,000 barrels a day of oil for 30 days along with food, batteries, medicine, and a Red Cross delegation.

· UN (United Nations)
Despite the American government’s disinterest in strong outcomes from the World Conference on Disaster Reduction in January 2005 and continuing attempts to tone down the outcomes from the 2005 World Summit in September 2005, the UN offered assistance which was accepted by the American government on 3 September 2005. The inter-agency teams comprise representatives from the World Food Programme (WFP), Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), World Health Organization (WHO), and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as well as support teams from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)/United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) network.

· Venezuela
Offered to send food, oil, water and aid workers plus soldiers to help tackle looting in New Orleans. Just before Hurricane Katrina, Venezuela’s president had offered cheap gas to poor Americans and free eye surgery for Americans without health care access. No official reaction could be found to these offers.