The U.S. federal government has released a memorandum warning people against the spread of misinformation about the response to Hurricane Helen. He also considered claims made by fsays President Donald Trumpwhich is in a tight race with Vice President Kamala Harrisand said the government had spent disaster funds on migrants.
Trump was in Georgia, one of several states affected by the storm, and spoke at a news conference, saying the government had been unable to provide timely aid because it had used aid money for people “who entered the country illegally “. , the Washington Post reported. He also claimed that the government was “missing $1 billion” that had been used for migrants.
Meanwhile, the White House decided to release a memorandum warning people about such claims and asking politicians to refrain from spreading lies, as it could prevent people affected by the disaster from seeking the help they need.
The memo, released by the Biden administration, said Republicans are deliberately spreading “blatant lies” and using a natural disaster to “lie and divide.”
“It is imperative that every leader, whatever their political persuasion, stop spreading this poison,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates wrote, adding, “This isn’t about politics — it’s about helping people.”
Hurricane Helena tore through the southern US earlier this week, causing devastation and killing at least 213 people. The storm is one of the deadliest in recent decades. In response to the disaster, the federal government has deployed more than 1,000 personnel and sent supplies and food to affected regions. The response seems nominal due to the extent of damage caused by the storm in six states.
The former president, who leads Harris in Georgia by single digits, tried to link the storm’s devastation to the federal response by reaching out to the vice president.
“Kamala has spent all her FEMA money, billions of dollars, on housing for illegal immigrants,” Trump said at a rally Thursday.
The truth, on the contrary, is that FEMA has the funds necessary to provide the necessary assistance, Bates said in the White House memo. The agency has already processed $45 million in direct assistance to people affected by Helena, the White House noted.
The memo also notes, “No disaster relief funding at all has been used to support migrant housing and services. There isn’t. At. Everyone.”
