The nation of Qatar announced Tuesday its decision to distribute $60 million in Hurricane Katrina relief funding, allocating $3.3 million to the University.
The Persian Gulf country, whose income is driven by oil production, made a $100 million gift to the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama in September 2005 after Katrina ripped through the Gulf Coast the month earlier.
“It is our duty to help people who were hurt,” said Nasser Bin Hamad al-Khalifa, Qatar’s ambassador to the United States, to the Associated Press. “Today’s globalization is making this one world, and if any tragedy takes place, we are all aware of it.”
LSU System spokesman Charles Zewe said the donation was a “tremendous gesture.”
“This will go a long way in relieving the suffering of faculty, students and staff – thousands of people in the LSU System family. We’re very grateful to Qatar.”
Kristine Calongne, director of public affairs, said the donation will go to the Hurricane Katrina Student Relief Fund. She said more statistical information will be available in a news release that she thinks will be sent out today.
The Katrina Student Relief Fund was created by the LSU Foundation and Student Government to aid students effected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The Daily Reveille reported Dec. 8, 2005, that the LSU Foundation raised about $1.3 million for the relief fund before distributing the money in early December. About 2,900 students applied, and about 2,500 received financial awards from $300 to $1,000.
 
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