"Part of our goal has been to make sure that we not just recover from the storm, but also that we start dealing with some of the structural inequities that stood long before the start of the storm," said Obama in a speech in New Orleans for the 10th anniversary of the disaster.
"Our work here won't be done when almost 40 percent of children still live in poverty in this city. That's not a finished job. That's not a full recovery," Obama was quoted as saying by media.
He added that many people who fled New Orleans following Katrina have not returned.
There remains crime and structural inequality that left many people, especially the poor and people of color, without good jobs or affordable health care or decent housing, Obama said.
It is reported that 52 percent of black men in New Orleans are currently unemployed while more than 50 percent of black children under 18 live in poverty.
"What started out as a natural disaster became a man-made disaster, a failure of government to look out for its own citizens," said Obama.
On Aug. 29, 2005, Katrina caused major damage to the Mexico Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida, and nearly 2,000 people died.
Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
28/8/15
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- US President Barack Obama has heralded the progress New Orleans has made in rebuilding the city since Hurricane Katrina battered the area 10 years ago, but said more needed to be done to overcome poverty and inequality....
On his ninth trip to the city that made worldwide headlines in 2005 after a devastating flood was exacerbated by a slow government response, Mr Obama toured a neighborhood of colourful new houses and a new school and community center.
"Just because the houses are nice doesn't mean our job's done," he told reporters after shaking hands with residents and greeting children from the community.
As a presidential candidate in 2008, Mr Obama sharply criticised Republican President George W Bush for his administration's handling of the aftermath of the storm.
Speaking after almost two terms as president, Mr Obama recalled the storm and its aftermath.
"What started out as a natural disaster became a man-made disaster, a failure of government to look out for its own citizens," he said.
The storm "laid bare a deeper tragedy" of structural inequalities that left "too many people, especially poor people, especially people of colour, without good jobs or affordable healthcare or decent housing," he said.
Mr Obama and other elected officials commemorating the 10th anniversary of the storm said there has been progress.......................http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0827/724053-katrina-obama/
28/8/17
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