Saturday, September 3 2005 15:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: As countries from around the world, including developing and emerging economies, offered aid to it, the US dismissed charges that its response to the Black victims of hurricane Katrina was inadequate and readied to sell fuel from its reserve to meet the oil shortage caused by the disaster.

While Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice put the number of aid offers at 'dozens,' the State Department released a list of 59 countries and organisations that have made offers since the hurricane Katrina ravaged the US Gulf Coast.

They included poor countries such as El Salvador, Armenia and the Philippines. The list also included countries with which the US has no relations or poor ties, such as Cuba and Venezuela.

Rice particularly noted that the offers included one from Sri Lanka, which is still recovering from its own devastation after the tsunami last December.

"Recently, we have seen the American people respond generously to help others around the globe during their times of distress, such as during the recent tsunami," Rice told reporters. "Today, we are seeing a similar urgent, warm and compassionate reaction from the International community in response to Katrina."

At a hastily organised news conference, Rice also dismissed charges that Washington's response to Hurricane Katrina's black victims was inadequate because of racism. "That Americans would somehow in a colour-affected way decide who to help and who not to help, I don't believe it," Rice said. "Americans are a very generous people."

Rice spoke with leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus yesterday to try to allay their fears, she told reporters.

However, media have noted that the worst victims of the disaster in New Orleans are Blacks. Most Whites, generally more prosperous than Blacks, managed to get away in cars and buses. Having no such means, the Blacks stayed behind in the face of danger and are now suffering.

Rice said the US wanted to express 'heartfelt thanks' to all nations for demonstrating solidarity. "Every offer is important," she said, adding, "We've turned down no offers."

The US Congress has also passed a special USD 10.5 billion aid-package for the victims.

State Department Executive Secretary Harry Thomas has been charged with coordinating the international effort. He will work with the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency to match up offers with places of specific need.

To meet the shortage of oil and hike in its prices as a result of damage caused by Katrina, US President George W Bush, who visited the marooned New Orleans yesterday, orderd the Energy Secretary to draw down and sell fuel from the government's strategic petroleum reserve.

Bush said that recent events in connection with Hurricane Katrina have resulted in a severe energy supply interruption.

Facing flak for the delay in relief efforts, Bush conceded the initial response to the hurricane was 'not acceptable'.

"A lot of people are working hard to help those who have been affected, and I want to thank the people for their efforts," he said.