Mayor: New Orleans will seek aid from other nations

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Tue, 7 Feb 2006 02:10:33 -0500

NewOrleans Mayor Nagin requests Aid from Foreign Countries

Due To Lack

 

 

 

Mayor: New Orleans will seek aid from other nations

 

 

Feb 6, 7:24 PM (ET)

 

By Michael Depp

 

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Shortcomings in aid from the U.S. government

are making New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin look to other nations for help

in rebuilding his hurricane-damaged city.

 

Nagin, who has hosted a steady stream of foreign dignitaries since

Hurricane Katrina hit in late August, says he may seek international

assistance because U.S. aid has not been sufficient to get the city

back on its feet.

 

" I know we had a little disappointment earlier with some signals we're

getting from Washington but the international community may be able to

fill the gap, " Nagin said when a delegation of French government and

business officials passed through on Friday to explore potential

business partnerships.

 

Jordan's King Abdullah also visited New Orleans on Friday and Nagin

said he would encourage foreign interests to help redevelop some of

the areas hardest hit by the storm.

 

" France can take Treme. The king of Jordan can take the Lower Ninth

Ward, " he said, referring to two of the city's neighborhoods.

 

Katrina flooded 80 percent of the city and killed more than 1,300

people in Louisiana and Mississippi.

 

The Bush administration has pledged billions of dollars to Katrina

victims but five months after the storm, New Orleans remains largely

in ruins.

 

Nagin said his message to President George W. Bush would be that the

federal government needs to refocus on the devastated area.

 

" We need your undivided attention over the next six months, " he said.

" We need backup. We need for you to make the words that you spoke in

Jackson Square a reality. "

 

Nagin was referring to the president's September 15 address to the

nation from New Orleans, in which he pledged " we will do what it

takes, we will stay as long as it takes " to rebuild.

 

French Transport Minister Dominique Perben, leading the French

delegation to a city that was founded by France in 1718, said, " This

catastrophe has deeply upset the French people and the French government. "

 

France, Perben said through a translator, " wants to be a long-term

partner for Louisiana and New Orleans. "