Katrina: Thank you

Kofi Annan has expressed his sympathies.

Jan Egeland (UN official in charge of something-or-other), who quickly backpeddled from his statement last December that when it comes to disaster aid, rich nations (particularly the United States) are "stingy" said, "The United Nations stands ready to help with any kind of disaster expertise that might be required ... in full recognition that the United States is the country in the world that possesses the greatest civilian and military search and rescue and recovery assets themselves." But although millions have been affected, compared to the tsunami it's more of an economic loss than a human one.

No one has a clue how many people have been killed or injured along the Gulf Coast, yet Jan's already evaluated the situation and decided the quality of the loss Katrina caused.

At least they finally made the gesture. The UN's acknowledgement that something had happened was all I wanted. Their help? I can see it now. Kofi's press release calling upon its member states the United States for more money, so that the UN can coordinate and lay sole claim to disaster relief within the United States.

Far more meaningful is:

Offers have been received from Russia, Japan, Canada, France, Honduras, Germany, Venezuela, Jamaica, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, Hungary, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, China, South Korea, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, NATO and the Organization of American States.

More here.