Qatar Katrina Fund

BARBARA BIBBO

US President George W. Bush has sent a message to the Emir of Qatar to thank the Gulf country for the donation of $ 100 million to the victims of Katrina, the US Embassy said.

Fran Townsend, a top aide to Bush, called on Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Deputy Emir, on Monday to convey the US president's personal thanks to Qatar "for its extraordinary kindness, on behalf of the American people and especially the victims of Hurricane Katrina."

The Emir, His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, announced a contribution of $ 100 million (Dh368 million) to the victims of hurricane Katrina on September 3, as the country was marking its 34th independence anniversary,

Qatar News Agency quoted a source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying that the donation was made "in the name of the Government of Qatar and its people".

"Qatar is following up with profound sorrow the devastation brought by Hurricane Katrina," the source was reported as saying.

The State of Qatar, a close US ally, announced Monday it would donate $100 million to relief efforts for the US victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The aid was granted by the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, "in the name of the government and the Qatari people," QNA reported.

Quoting a foreign ministry spokesman, it said: "Qatar expresses its sympathy and its solidarity to the US people and government in these painful circumstances and sends its condolences to the families of the victims." (C) 2005 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)

Buses, helicopters, planes - even Amtrak trains - carry stranded New Orleans residents out of their city, as the pace of evacuation picks up dramatically. More than 25,000 people have been evacuated since the National Guard arrived Friday, emptying the festering city shelters at the Superdome and Convention Center.

President Bush, saying survivors' five-day wait for help is "unacceptable," orders 7,000 active-duty troops to Louisiana and Mississippi on top of the 10,000 National Guard troops deployed. The infusion will bring the military presence in the two states to 51,000 within days - 40,000 reservists and 11,000 active-duty troops.

Bush signs the $10.5 billion emergency appropriation passed by Congress to fund immediate rescue and relief efforts in the region.

The Persian Gulf emirate of Qatar pledges $100 million toward Katrina aid, joining more than 50 nations that have promised money or other help - among them, tsunami-stricken Sri Lanka.

Offshore oil production in the Gulf of Mexico, which normally accounts for 10 percent of U.S. production, or two million barrels of oil a day, begins to rebound. Katrina knocked out all but 5 percent of regional oil production, but facilities are coming back online daily and about 20 percent of the normal production was reported yesterday.

The American Red Cross says it has 361 shelters open, caring for at least 96,180 hurricane victims in nine states.

The Gulf emirate of Qatar announced Saturday it will donate 100 million dollars to relief efforts for the US victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The aid was granted by Qatar's emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani "in the name of the government and the Qatari people," the official news agency QNA said.

Quoting a foreign ministry spokesman, QNA said: "Qatar expresses its sympathy and its solidarity to the US people and government in these painfiul circumstances and sends its condolences to the families of the victims in this humanitarian catastrophe."

Three other Arab countries -- Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates -- have also offered aid to the United States.

The hurricane wreaked devastation on the three southern states of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama and caused thousands of deaths.

A US-based risk management company that specialises in disaster recovery said that the damage caused by the storm in Louisiana and Mississippi is likely to surpass 100 billion dollars.