Qatar pledges $60 million in Katrina aid

[sabra]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/3833356.html

Qatar pledges $60 million in Katrina aid


The nation of Qatar plans to announce today roughly $60 million in grants to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina, including $17.5 million to Xavier University in New Orleans, the only historically black Catholic university in the United States.

Other beneficiaries are Tulane University, Children's Hospital in New Orleans, Habitat for Humanity, Louisiana State University and the March of Dimes.

Qatar's ambassador to the United States, Nasser Bin Hamad al-Khalifa, said the remainder of the $100 million his country had pledged would be assigned in the coming months.

"Hurricane Katrina was so devastating that everyone in Qatar and the rest of the world felt a responsibility to really act," Khalifa said. More than 50 countries donated money, expertise and materials, according to Foreign Policy magazine.

[DoTheRightThing]

1. How very nice of them!

Nice to see all the foreign aid we give doesn't all go 'out'.

[leesa]

3. We give very little proportionately. It's interesting to note that when

we piss a country off they have 'retaliated' by giving money or goods to Katrina or other victims neglected by our government.

[CottonBear]

2. Thanks Qatar. It is good they are giving grants directly.

I remember reading that the Bush* administration redirected other foreign aid money which was given right after the disaster and most of the money never directly benefited the victims. Qatar is doing the right thing by giving direct grants to these worthy organizations.

[Robbien]

4. Interesting that they are giving it directly to the people and not the US

government.

But then the article clarifies this

"Our past experience is that while you can give to any organization or to a government," he said, "you have no control over the money and then you discover the people most affected have not benefited."

Qatar is no dummy.

[Robbien]

5. Aw, even poor countries gave to Katrina

Poor nations also donated. Less than a year after the Indian Ocean tsunami engulfed it, Sri Lanka gave $25,000 to the American Red Cross. Bangladesh gave $1 million, Cyprus $50,000, Ghana $15,000 and the Dominican Republic $50,000.

The US is so outclassed here.