GOC OFFERS HURRICANE RECOVERY ASSISTANCE

UNCLAS BOGOTA 008197 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR S/CMS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID PGOV CO SUBJECT: GOC OFFERS HURRICANE RECOVERY ASSISTANCE ¶1. On August 30, Vice Minister of Defense Andres Penate offered assistance to the United States in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Penate, as head of civil defense, offered to make available twenty English-speaking personnel from Colombia's disaster assistance force to help with recovery efforts. The Ambassador welcomed the news and agreed to pass the offer on to Washington. ¶2. ACTION REQUEST: Post requests Washington respond with information on whether the assistance would be useful. WOOD