MOSCOW, September 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry is prepared to help the American. regions that were hit by Hurricane Katrina, a spokesman for the ministry said Friday.
"The UN has called on those countries that can provide assistance to place their relief forces on alert. Following this appeal, Emergency Situations Ministry has prepared rescue teams and equipment for dispatch to the United States," the spokesman said.
A Russian Emergency Situations Ministry coordinator is currently in the U.S. to assess the scale of the assistance Russia may provide.
Russia has offered to help conduct search and rescue operations, the spokesman said, adding that two IL-76TD transport planes, loaded with internationally certified search and rescue helicopters and equipment, were ready to fly from Ramenskoye airfield in the Moscow region.
