Ninety countries offer aid to deal with Katrina

As authorities in the world's most wealthiest nation struggled to cope with "the worst natural disaster the country has seen", help poured in from all parts of the globe, notably from countries like Cuba and Venezuela despite their strained ties with the US.

India has pledged $5 million to the American Red Cross and offered to sent medical teams with experience in dealing with water-borne diseases.

While European governments decided to release 2 million barrels of oil per day from their strategic reserves, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates contributed "very large cash" donations.

The State Department said a decision on acceptance of these proposals will be based on needs and not political considerations.