Sunday, September 4 2005 10:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: India yesterday (Sept 3, 2005) said it will contribute US$ five million to the American Red Cross for relief activities in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, besides offering supply of essential medicines and sending its medical teams.

"Having ourselves experienced the tsunami tragedy last year, we can understand the sufferings of the people affected by this natural calamity. The people of India stand in solidarity and sympathy with them in these trying times," India's ambassador to the US Ronen Sen said yesterday.

As a token of the support of the people and Government of India for the people and Government of the United States, India will contribute US Dollars 5 million to the American Red Cross for relief activities in affected areas.

In addition, India has offered large water purification systems for household and community level operations, and to donate essential medicines that may be required.

A medical team, which has first hand experience in handling such situations, is ready to fly into the affected region in an Indian Air Force aircraft today (Sept 4, 2005), subject to US clearance, Sen said in a statement.

"The Government and the people of India have watched with deep shock and sadness the death and devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in the southern United States," he said.

President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have written to President George W Bush conveying their deep sympathy. External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh has sent a message of condolence to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Defence Minster Pranab Mukherjee has also written to his counterpart Donald Rumsfeld.