1. (U) Classified by DCM Richard A. Albright, for reasons
1.5 (B) and (D).



2. (C) Summary and comment: Post has engaged UAE officials
at all levels of government regarding humanitarian assistance
since the onset of war in Iraq began. In line with the UAEG's
preference to provide assistance-in-kind rather than cash
donations, the UAEG is facilitating the shipment of
humanitarian supplies to Iraq. The UAE Red Crescent Authority
(headquartered in Abu Dhabi) and the Mohammed Bin Rashid
Al-Maktoum Charity and Foundation in Dubai are coordinating
the outpouring of donations from the Emirati public. We will
continue to report the activities of these charities and the
UAEG as they support the humanitarian effort in Iraq. End
summary and comment.



3. (C) Per refs B and C, UAE Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs has noted to the Ambassador on several occasions that
the UAE RCA had purchased about $3 million USD in medical
supplies and other necessities just prior to the war and
delivered the goods to Iraqi hospitals. Most recently, the
office of UAE Armed Forces Chief of Staff Shaykh Mohammed bin
Zayid Al-Nahyan on 4/6 requested Post's assistance to
coordinate the delivery of 700 tons of foodstuffs, and nine
vehicles (including four water tankers and an ambulance)
with the Humanitarian Operations Center and the ICRC
representative in Kuwait. UAE First Lady Shaykha Fatima this
week donated an approximate $2 million USD to the UAE RCA for
the Iraqi people.



4. (U) In Dubai, the Shaykh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum
Charity and Humanitarian Foundation (whose patron is the UAE
Defense Minister and Dubai Crown Prince) continues to collect
cash donations and humanitarian supplies on behalf of the 16
charities in the UAE that it represents, and has expressed
an interest in sending these supplies to Iraq soon.



5. (C) In addition, the UAE Foreign Ministry signed in late
March an agreement with the United Nations World Food Program
(WFP) formalizing WFP's regional office in Dubai. The WFP
office has been operating in Dubai for some time, however,
and recent press reports indicate that the WFP facility in
Dubai will be a major transshipment point for humanitarian aid
destined to Iraq.

Wahba