US to offer $350 million in aid
If your like me, lately I've been following the news on the tragedy unfolding in Indonesia. I've been hearing lots of statistics, such as the US being the richest country in the world, and that 40% of all aid offered to the world comes from the US, and quite honestly, I was completely unaware of our generosity to our foreign neighbors. The latest release from the US on the tsunami was a shocker.
The United States is pledging $350 million to help tsunami victims, a tenfold increase over its first wave of aid, President Bush announced Friday. "Initial findings of American assessment teams on the ground indicate that the need for financial and other assistance will steadily increase in the days and weeks ahead," Bush said Friday in a statement released in Crawford, Texas, where he is staying at his ranch. “Our contributions will continue to be revised as the full effects of this terrible tragedy become clearer," he said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this epic disaster."
Bush also is sending Secretary of State Colin Powell to Indian Ocean coastal areas ravaged by earthquake and tsunami to assess what more the United States needs to do. The president's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, will travel with him.