U.S. extends hand to Cuba after hurricanes

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is reaching out to help Cuba in the wake of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike despite Havana's rejection of an earlier offer to send assistance, the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday.

The State Department said Washington had reiterated its offer to send a humanitarian assessment team to Cuba in response to Hurricane Ike.

"Our offer to send a team in the wake of Hurricane Ike remains on the table," the State Department said.

Ike made a second landfall on Tuesday after striking eastern Cuba on Sunday with 120-mph (195-kph) winds. Gustav slammed into western Cuba a week earlier, with winds of 150 mph (240 kph), damaging 90,000 houses and dealing a blow to agriculture.

The State Department said the Cuban government on Saturday declined an initial U.S. offer to send a team to evaluate the damage from Gustav. Havana said Washington should instead sell it relief supplies and allow food sales on credit.

The United States has maintained a trade embargo against Cuba for 46 years and the two countries, just 90 miles apart, do not have diplomatic relations.

The State Department said on Tuesday the United States was providing $100,000 in immediate emergency assistance to nongovernmental organizations responding to Hurricane Gustav.

Washington has increased authorizations for U.S.-based aid groups to provide larger amounts of humanitarian assistance, including cash donations, to help the Cuban people, the State Department added.

The department said Washington also would expedite applications of up to $10 million per donor for up to 90 days.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates hurricane damage in Cuba could total between $3 billion and $4 billion.

After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, then-Cuban leader Fidel Castro offered to send Cuban doctors to help storm victims, but Washington did not accept.

(Editing by Peter Cooney)