Refugee-Level Aid Needed For Katrina Evacuees: US Senator

SHAKE AND BLOW

Hurricane Katrina evacuees sit on cots 06 September 2005 in the Reliant Center, in Houston, Texas, one of four huge shelters in the Houston area. Between 10,000 and 11,000 New Orleans residents had found shelter in the Houston Astrodome before it was closed to news arrivals late 01 September 2005, American Red Cross officials said. New arrivals are being sent to other shelters in the Houston area, such as the Reliant Center, and two other Texas cities, Dallas and San Antonio. AFP photo by Stan Honda.

Washington (AFP) Sep 06, 2005
A top Republican senator urged US President George W. Bush on Tuesday to provide Americans displaced by Hurricane Katrina the same package of financial aid and services given to foreign refugees who resettle in this country.

US Senator Chuck Grassley called on the US president to tap some of the resources of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, located within the federal Department of Health and Human Services, to provide resettlement assistance to Katrina's evacuees.

"Sadly, many of our fellow citizens who have been displaced are similarly situated to the refugees we assist for resettlement in this country - they are without jobs, homes, clothing, money and other basic necessities," Grassley wrote in his letter sent to the White House Tuesday.

"For families who suffered from Hurricane Katrina, the humane solution cannot be to stay in a sports stadium or armory for months waiting for reconstruction or new construction," he continued.

"Many families understandably will want a new start now, not months from now. Many families will need help with that new start, be it in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama or elsewhere in the nation," he wrote.

The Iowa Republican senator said the program for hurricane victims would provide cash and medical assistance to displaced people, and would give resources to charities assisting displaced families in relocating.

"This proven program could be used on behalf of our fellow citizens, just as its been used so successfully to help citizens of other countries who look for a fresh start in the United States," Grassley said in a statement.

"By making slight modifications to this federal resettlement program, we can try to help people get back to their lives and get started again much sooner," said Grassley.

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SHAKE AND BLOW

Thousands Jam Roads Into New Orleans Suburbs In Bid To Return Home

Metairie, Louisiana (AFP) Sep 05 2005
Miles-long lines of cars, vans and empty rental trucks with thousands of anxious residents clogged roads leading into this New Orleans suburb Monday for the first look at their homes since Hurricane Katrina devastated the southern US city.

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