WHAT HAS THE U.S. CONTRIBUTION BEEN SO FAR?(美国现在捐献了什么？）

Q. Has the United States sent search and rescue crews to China? I know we offered some financial aid, but are we helping at all in terms of manpower and equipment? What are other countries doing to help rescue the buried? — Diana Leonard

Q. I am wondering if it is true that the U.S. government only donated ＄500,000 for the earthquake. Isn’t that a bit too little? — Caroline A. The White House did offer ＄500,000 for the relief effort as well as supplies valued at ＄700,000. In financial terms, the offer is smaller than other relatively wealthy countries, including Japan, Canada, Italy, and Ireland. But the American Red Cross has donated closer to ＄10 million, and United States businesses and private charities have offered still more, at least ＄12 million. So the total American response is much larger than the government-to-government aid suggests. The relatively small official United States donation did prompt some commentary in the Chinese media. Some United States-based disaster relief experts have offered to assist China in its rescue efforts. But, though China has accepted aid from a handful of countries, it has not asked the United States to send rescue workers. — Joseph Kahn