The Czech Republic declared from the beginning its readiness to help areas affected by the devastating hurricane Katrina. The Czech Republic announced on 5th September 2005 that the amount of 25 Million Czech Crowns will be assigned to the financing of humanitarian aid. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the CR is responsible for the coordination of this aid.

After the meeting with the American side and the specification of basic requirements of humanitarian aid by the United States, a meeting of the interministerial crisis staff took place on 4th September 2005 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. The result of this meeting is a concrete offer of humanitarian aid, which the Czech Republic is ready to provide to the people affected by the natural disaster in the south-eastern area of the United States of America.

The humanitarian aid includes:

- water treatment plant with crew and equipment for water treatment
- a medical team
- a section of field hospital corresponding to the specific needs of the affected areas
- team for elimination of ecological damages and decontamination
- team speacialised in rescue actions during floods (flood rescue unit)
- team specialised in large scale water pumping from flooded areas (flood pumping unit)

The offer of humanitarian aid has been presented on 5th September 2005 to the Ambassador of the United States of America in Prague William Cabaniss at his meeting with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Jiří Paroubek. After its evaluation by the United States, the Czech Republic will proceed to the providing of the aid.

The MFA of the CR stays in permanent contact with the US administration and through Czech diplomatic representations specifies the forms and ways of transportation of the required humanitarian aid.


Unofficial translation