US EMERGENCY SPECIALISTS TRYING TO CONTACT ARMENIAN CITIZEN IN NEW ORLEANS

Armenpress
September 2, 2005

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: US embassy in Yerevan has confirmed
today presence of at least one Armenian citizen in the hurricane
stricken New Orleans. It said a physician, Ruben Jamalain, 35, was
in New Orleans Superdome in the aftermath of Katrina hurricane and
was seen providing medical assistance to thousands of stranded people
who were not able to leave the town.

The embassy said specialists from US Department of State Crisis
Management Center were trying to get in contact with Jamalian to
evacuate him either to Houston or Atlanta. Also Armenian foreign
ministry has said it is in a constant contact with US embassy here,
with Crisis Management Center and other US emergency agencies in
order to get information about Jamalian and other Armenian citizens
who may be stranded in New Orleans.

Armenian foreign ministry said the Crisis Management Center convened
foreign ambassadors to USA on August 31 and provided them with e-mail
addresses and phone numbers they can use in order to get information
about their citizens who are likely to be in New Orleans. Meantime
U.S. troops made their way to New Orleans on Friday with shoot-to-kill
orders to scare off looting gangs so rescuers can help thousands of
people stranded by Hurricane Katrina, find the dead and clean up the
carnage. Around 14,000 Guard troops were on the ground and 30,000
more are expected in the coming days.