Fears held for missing Australians
September 05, 2005
TWO Australians remain unnacounted for in hurricane-devastated New Orleans, with an Australian consular official now given approval to enter the city to look for them, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today.
Mr Downer said one was a visitor and the other an elderly permanent resident.
He said most of the Australians caught up in the Hurricane Katrina disaster were living permanently in the United States.
Mr Downer said Australia's situation was no different to Britain or other countries which were told collectively they were not allowed to send in representatives.
"They are the rules they laid down. I am delighted now that we have been able to get a consular officer in. He has gone in with a Brit," he told the Nine Network.
"They are the first two consular officers from any country that have managed to get into New Orleans. The fact that we are first demonstrates the sheer determination of our people to try to overcome that problem." he said.
Mr Downer said an Australian official based in Atlanta, Georgia, had been granted approval to stay just until sunset and he would be concentrating on finding the two missing Australians.
"It has been frustrating but the Americans did say from the outset that the situation there was obviously catastrophic, there were real problems with law and order and they would do the evacuation," he said.
"Now they have evacuated a quarter of a million of people – just think of that a quarter of the population of Adelaide."
Australian survivors of the disaster have criticised the level of support provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Mr Downer said in such situations it was always the same.
"You get some people who have expectations which just cannot physically be fulfilled," he said.
"We do not have large numbers of people in New Orleans.
"We live in Australia. It's a long way away."
Mr Downer said the Americans had responsibility and frustrations probably reflected the overall frustrations with the US relief operation.
He said many people on the other hand had been very gracious and thankful for the Australian support once they had been evacuated.
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TWO Australians remain unnacounted for in hurricane-devastated New Orleans, with an Australian consular official now given approval to enter the city to look for them, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today.
Mr Downer said one was a visitor and the other an elderly permanent resident.
He said most of the Australians caught up in the Hurricane Katrina disaster were living permanently in the United States.
Mr Downer said Australia's situation was no different to Britain or other countries which were told collectively they were not allowed to send in representatives.
"They are the rules they laid down. I am delighted now that we have been able to get a consular officer in. He has gone in with a Brit," he told the Nine Network.
"They are the first two consular officers from any country that have managed to get into New Orleans. The fact that we are first demonstrates the sheer determination of our people to try to overcome that problem." he said.
Mr Downer said an Australian official based in Atlanta, Georgia, had been granted approval to stay just until sunset and he would be concentrating on finding the two missing Australians.
"It has been frustrating but the Americans did say from the outset that the situation there was obviously catastrophic, there were real problems with law and order and they would do the evacuation," he said.
"Now they have evacuated a quarter of a million of people – just think of that a quarter of the population of Adelaide."
Australian survivors of the disaster have criticised the level of support provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Mr Downer said in such situations it was always the same.
"You get some people who have expectations which just cannot physically be fulfilled," he said.
"We do not have large numbers of people in New Orleans.
"We live in Australia. It's a long way away."
Mr Downer said the Americans had responsibility and frustrations probably reflected the overall frustrations with the US relief operation.
He said many people on the other hand had been very gracious and thankful for the Australian support once they had been evacuated.
Link Here
posted by Kangaroo Brisbane Australia at 8:17 PM
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