Turned tables

I'll admit that in the past I've complained about the conspicuous lack of assistance offered to the United States when natural disasters have befallen us. However, I cannot do that this time, I'm pleased to say.

According to a State Department spokesman, 94 countries and international organizations have so far offered aid to the United States in light of the tragedy along the Gulf Coast. Here is its partial list of nations from which the United States has received support:

• Afghanistan: $100,000
  
• Armenia: $100,000
  
• Australia: $7.6 million
  
• Azerbaijan: $500,000
  
• Bahamas: $50,000
  
• Bahrain: $5 million
  
• Bangladesh: $1 million
  
• Belgium: Medical/logistics teams to Red Cross
  
• Canada: 2 helicopters, 32-person rescue team, Air Canada evacuation flights, medical supplies
  
• China: $5.1 million cash and relief supplies
  
• Djibouti: $50,000
  
• Finland: 3 logisticians to Red Cross
  
• France: Tents, tarps, Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), water treatment supplies
  
• Gabon: $500,000
  
• Georgia: $50,000
  
• Germany: MREs and high speed pumps
  
• Greece: Cruise ships, private offer of an International Committee of the Red Cross Web-based tracing system
  
• India: $5 million
  
• Israel: Tents, first aid kits, baby formula
  
• Italy: Generators, water pumps/purifiers, tents, medical supplies
  
• Japan: $1 million cash, generators, tents, blankets, bottled water
  
• Kuwait: $400 million in oil, $100 million cash
  
• Maldives: $25,000 cash
  
• Mexico: Bedding, MREs, baby care items, personal hygiene kits
  
• NATO: Coordinating European assistance offers
  
• Norway: $1.54 million in relief supplies
  
• Organization of American States: $25,000 cash
  
• Qatar: $100 million cash
  
• Republic of Korea: $30 million cash and in-kind donations
  
• Saudi Arabia: $255 million from Aramco
  
• Singapore: 3 helicopters
  
• Sri Lanka: $25,000 cash
  
• Taiwan: $2 million cash, medical supplies
  
• Thailand: Large amounts of food
  
• United Arab Emirates: $100 million cash
  
• United Kingdom: MREs
  
• U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: U.N. Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team and logistics support
  
• U.N. World Health Organization: Public health officers and logisticians
  
• Venezuela: Up to $1 million to Red Cross

The larger, Western countries I can understand—they can afford to give assistance. But Djibouti? Gabon?

I'm not from Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama, and I've never been to New Orleans. However, I still want to say thank you. Although I hope you never need it, I hope the United States can be of similar assistance to you some day.