British Prime Minister Tony Blair has issued a formal apology to the British survivors of Hurricane Katrina who criticised the Foreign & Commonwealth Office for a disorganised response to the disaster, the Times Online has reported.
However, Blair offered compassion to those suffering, and added that Foreign Office staff had now arrived in New Orleans and were working extremely hard to trace all British survivors to bring them back to the UK.
The British premier recently arrived in Beijing for trade talks, but found time to offer a statement on the situation in Louisiana, USA. He said, “It’s been really tough for people, I know that, but it’s been tough for our officials on the ground.
“I’m really sorry if there has been difficulties about this but I can assure you some of these staff have been working round the clock and because it’s been a very difficult and confused situation it’s been difficult for them, the staff, as well as the people for whom this has been a catastrophe.”
A Foreign minister, Lord Triesman had said that British officials had been hampered in their attempts to reach New Orleans by US authorities who denied them access to the city.
Triesman told BBC Radio 4, “We asked every day, we have asked every day for permission to go into the city. Sadly, we have not got that permission. We didn't feel that we could simply take the law into our own hands.”
Meanwhile Sunday has also been a day where those who have had their lives devastated by the hurricane were able to find comfort in God. It was reported that huge numbers gathered in religious services on Sunday 4th September; many giving thanks for their survival and others praying desperately for their loved ones that had still not returned home.
Tears were seen by hundreds across churches in the region as families embraced each other in a solemn and shocked atmosphere.
The Anglican Communion Network has released a message to all its congregations. It states that it is focusing its support on parishes on the front line providing care to the victims. The release said, “Dozens of parishes and thousands of people need our help.
