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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Israel and U.S. send humanitarian aid to war-torn Georgia |
| 2008-08-14 |
| U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday expressed concern over Russia's continued military action in Georgian territory, and said his administration would send humanitarian assistance to the embattled region. Israel has also sent a shipment of humanitarian aid, in the first step of what it termed a broader aid effort. The aid, sent late Tuesday on a Georgian airline, consists of two respirators and seven EKG monitors. In an official statement on Wednesday, Bush said that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would visit Tbilisi in a show of support for the Georgian government. He also announced that a massive U.S. humanitarian effort was already in progress and would involve U.S. aircraft as well as naval forces. A U.S. C-17 military cargo plane, loaded with supplies, already is on the way, and Bush said that Russia must ensure that all lines ofcommunication and transport, including seaports, roads and airports, remain open to let deliveries and civilians through. U.S. Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman said later that a second supply-laden C-17 was planned Thursday, and an assessment team was to arrive soon in Georgia to determine other needs. The Pentagon also is preparing to send the hospital ship, the USNS Comfort, if needed, although it would take weeks to get to the region. The administration also will review what military help is needed for Georgia's now-shattered armed forces, Whitman said. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Bush said: "Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Israel sends an awful lot of humanitarian aid to the outside world. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-08-14 09:45 |