Canadians mourn for those who have lost their lives, and our hearts go out to the tens of thousands of people affected by that disaster.

This extended even to members of the clergy, who came together to call for unity in flood relief efforts.

We would like to express our gratitude for the work done by humanitarian personnel on behalf of millions of people in distress throughout the world.

That devotion we show in helping victims of disasters, such as the earthquake in 1985 or this year's floods.

Urges Islamic countries and the institutions of civil society in the Islamic world to pursue their assistance designed to protect the Tsunami child victims and provide help to Muslim victims of natural disasters.

But this approach is hardly progressive, as the final holders of pensions, insurance contracts, and bank deposits are typically the beleaguered middle class and the elderly.

Let us hope that the sense of international solidarity brought on by the relief efforts is not temporary or isolated, and that our empathy for those suffering does not end at the shores of the countries affected by this disaster.

But the reality is that the US is scuttling from a conflict that it has lost, just as it did in Vietnam almost 40 years ago, leaving the beleaguered population to its own devices.

Also calls upon the international community to enhance relief assistance to populations affected by devastation caused by natural disasters as well as by man made events in order to ensure their physical and mental health recovery

Also calls upon the international community to enhance relief assistance to populations affected by devastation caused by natural disasters as well as by man made events in order to ensure their physical and mental health recovery

It has also shown that the media can play a significant role in such a mobilization and that it might also contribute to meeting the needs of populations that are deeply distressed although not themselves victims of the disaster.

Less than two weeks into the recovery process, UNICEF expressed concern over rumors of orphaned children becoming victims of trafficking, and States began taking measures to prevent traffickers from exploiting the already devastated victims.

The Asian disaster showed the ability of those affected to overcome long standing rifts, as Aceh rebels put down their arms in common cause with the rest of Indonesia. By contrast, the disaster in New Orleans and elsewhere along America s Gulf Coast exposed and aggravated such rifts.

If they do, Greece s brave, beleaguered citizens can at least take comfort in knowing that many people elsewhere will be spared the same unnecessary sacrifices.

From this rostrum, I would like to express my sincerest sympathy for the afflicted populations of the southern part of the United States of America that have been so tragically affected by the passage of Hurricane Katrina in August, one of the most devastating hurricanes ever to strike our continent.

We pay special tribute to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for providing direct humanitarian assistance to victims and for launching an appeal for additional emergency humanitarian assistance.

There was no transportation for people without cars or money, facilities to house and care for refugees were insufficient, there were no forces in place to deliver desperately needed supplies or to secure order, and there was nowhere near the number of boats, helicopters, and other craft necessary to rescue the stranded.