While the Guardian fears that more than 10,000 people have become victims of hurricane Katrina, the media has concentrated all its resources on the disaster.
From accusations about underestimated climate changes onto mismanagement of the emergency itself - we have heard it all. Shocking images of looting mobs have made their way around the world - always mixed with a little bit of schadenfreude - because 'we always knew that this government' can only cause problems.
This way of media coverage, especially in Europe, isn't of any help for the people who are still in the city and the affected areas. It isn't of any help for those who are still fighting to survive and even those who have managed to get out - they probably have lost their existence.
in this situation - do we really need discussions on whether Bush underestimated the global warming or whether too many national guard soldiers have been deployed to Iraq? No, we certainly do not!
New Orleans and the southern states are experiencing one of the worst traumas a civilized society can experience. The society seems to be threatened by rioting zealots and help isn't working as expected. This city needs immediate help and focused planning in order to ease the immediate and long term pain for those who have lost their houses, jobs and loved ones.
This help can be provided indirectly by the international community, by means of money, international oil stocks and economic and logistic management to avoid price increases and shortages of required goods.
The urgent support, as medical assistance, food and shelter has to provided by the US government immediately - they have the resources to do so.
Even the most sophisticated emergency plan could not have prevented the civil unrest - that is not so much resulting from the disaster itself, but from the social tensions which are so inherent to many US major cities (And I have to say many British cities too). Let's not forget that many refused to leave the city - among them those who were hoping for looting and lawlessness. Let's not forget that the same people fired on rescue helicopters and busses who arrived after the disaster.
This is a problem but this is not to blame on the president and the national administration solely. The example of Giuliani's New York has shown how much of a difference a decisive urban strategy can make. And civil unrest could always been found in the recent history of the states.
So please - and this goes out to the European media - please stop to fall for ridiculous connections between the Bush administration and the disaster itself - those arguments are solely originating from a deep aversion against his presidency - not from scientific facts.
