Emergency Relief Quotes

Last year, when we were in Mobile, Al., covering Hurricane Ivan, we heard the stories of poor people, many of them black stranded downtown because they had no way out.

The first role of government is to help people who are in crisis or need. That's why we have government.

When disaster waves, I try not to wave back.

My first big mission for UNICEF in Ethiopia was just to attract attention, before it was too late, to conditions which threatened the whole country. My role was to inform the world, to make sure that the people of Ethiopia were not forgotten.

Twenty million people are starving. Whatever their politics, they shall be fed!

When friends are in trouble, America Helps.

If you don't feel comfortable with the Red Cross, anything that you feel comfortable sending money to -- that you know is going to get to the hurricane victims -- send money. Because that's what you can do to help. And a lot of prayers. Lots of prayers.

When a nationwide injunction constrains a significant executive policy, the Justice Department has little choice but to seek emergency relief.

The number of casualties will be more than any of us can bear ultimately. And I don't think we want to speculate on the number of casualties. The effort now has to be to save as many people as possible.

People are hurting. People are suffering. But you can not get everywhere.

In an emergency, what treatment is given by ear? Words of Comfort.

It's really important, obviously, for people to realize that it is a very small percentage, only 1 percent of our total economy, of our total budget, and I think that's important for people to know. But I also know that Americans are very generous and that many, many Americans are proud that their taxpayer dollar has saved lives in Africa through the president's malaria initiative or through PEPFAR, the emergency relief plan for AIDS.

I believe that UNICEF is the most important branch of the U.N.; they do exceptional work to help the neediest children around the world

I can testify to what UNICEF means to children because I was among those who received food and medical relief right after World War II.

You saw the traumas that people lived through, and wondered what it will take to move us as a human community, as humanity, to help in these dangerous situations.

Thousands of people may have been killed by hurricane Katrina and many more could die in its aftermath because of the President's refusal to heed the calls of governors for help in repairing the infrastructure in their states.

[On her UNICEF work:] I'm glad I've got a name, because I'm using it for what it's worth. ... I do not want to see mothers and fathers digging graves for their children.

If I've learned anything in the more than 50 years that I've led MDA, it's that the generosity of the American people knows no bounds. I'm sure that with their fellow citizens in such dire need, they'll dig deep and do everything they can to help. I'm hopeful that many people will be willing to make two phone calls and donate to both causes.

We have already provided a strong humanitarian response to the problems in the Middle East and that response will be stronger within coming days.

I don't think it would be crazy to have a model or an entity model on the Reconstruction Finance Corp. That goes back to 1932, although it was really implemented in '33 under Jesse Jones, and it invested in mostly banks initially and preferred stock and that sort of thing.

We have a history when things are really horrible of wading in when no one else will.

I hope that something can be done in our piece that reflects on the attention that needs to be paid to the most vulnerable people, like refugees in the world right now, that have to not be politicized, but saved, literally.

I think there was an overemphasis in the early stage on militarization rather than directly providing relief. I don't think it has any long-term significance.

I can recall back in 1998, in August of that year, when we had a horrible disaster along the Mexican border in the town of Del Rio. At the time, FEMA was the shining star of the federal government. It's now perceived as many to be the dullest knife in the drawer. Right or wrong, that's the perception.