Here's part of a report of an interview with Kofi Annan about the hurricane disaster (NB the second, fourth and fifth paragraphs, which touch on some things that have surely been puzzling a lot of people around the world this past week):

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan says the crisis created by Hurricane Katrina gives the rest of the world a chance to repay the United States for the help it has offered in the past.

Mr Annan says he shares the "disbelief" of many people at the chaos afflicting the world's superpower.

"It has been a huge disaster. I don't think at the beginning one realised the extent of the damage and the disaster," he said.

Turning to the scenes of chaos in the worst-hit areas, Mr Annan says, "I share that disbelief, because normally when we have these sorts of crises, people tend to be humble, they tend to empathise, they tend to come together."

He has contrasted the scenes of violence witnessed in New Orleans with the assistance which victims of the Asia tsunami offered one another.

However, he has declined to make any criticism of the US authorities' handling of the aftermath of the hurricane.

This comes from an Australian source - the interview was on British TV as well - I couldn't find a link to it here though.