The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the CR Cyril Svoboda symbolicaly handed over today the humanitarian aid for people affected by the hurricane Katrina to US Ambassador William Cabaniss.

The first part of the aid - 16 tonnes, which left the Czech Republic on 11th September 2005, contained 600 camp-beds and 14 large size tents of a total value of 1.125.000 Czech Crowns. A further material aid consisting of 24.000 blankets will be delivered in next days.

NATO air capacities were used for the transport of the humanitarian aid to the USA. It is the first time that NATO deployed its units of NATO Response Forces.

• Embassy of the CR in the United States of America

Unofficial translation