UAE ARMED FORCES CHIEF OF STAFF VISITS UAE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002303 SIPDIS STATE FOR IRAQ TASK FORCE, ALSO NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, PRM/ANE, AND IO/UNP KUWAIT FOR HOC, ORHA CENTCOM FOR CCJ5, CCJ3 AND POLAD AMBASSADOR LITT E.O. 12958: DECL 05/12/08 TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV PHUM IZ TC SUBJECT: UAE ARMED FORCES CHIEF OF STAFF VISITS UAE HOSPITAL IN BAGHDAD REFS: ABU DHABI 1938 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (U) Classified by Charge d'Affaires Richard A. Albright, for reasons 1.5 (b)(c)(d). ¶2. (C) Summary: UAE Armed Forces Chief of Staff Shaykh Muhammad bin Zayid Al-Nahyan (MbZ) visited May 10 the newly refurbished Shaykh Zayid Hospital in Baghdad (formerly the Olympic Hospital) which opened its doors to the public last week. The hospital was established on the orders of UAE President Shaykh Zayid bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, and an advance team of UAE military personnel (accompanied by a USLO representative) traveled to Baghdad last month to conduct a site assessment survey for the hospital (reftel). During his visit, MbZ reportedly toured the facility, and spoke with a number of staff and patients. The hospital has two pharmacies, an outpatient clinic, several operating rooms, and an initial stock of supplies to last at least 60 days. MbZ's visit was the first such visit by a senior Emirati to liberated Iraq and was made possible by the superb coordination and support provided by CENTCOM. A closely held secret in the planning stages, the visit was highlighted in all of the local papers today. The Emiratis have gone to great lengths to publicize the generous humanitarian assistance provided to the Iraqi people by the UAEG via the UAE Red Crescent Authority, the Muhammad bin Rashid Charitable Foundation and last, but not least, the UAE Armed Forces. End summary. ¶3. (C) In a May 6 meeting with the Ambassador, MbZ solicited her assistance in facilitating a short-fuse visit to the recently established Shaykh Zayid Hospital in Baghdad (formerly known as the Olympic Hospital). MbZ wanted to visit his troops and see first-hand the situation on the ground. He admitted he had been itching to get into Iraq since the dramatic fall of Baghdad on April 9. The UAE Armed Forces were one of the first Arab/GCC military outfits to enter Iraq, when GHQ officers accompanied a UAE Red Crescent Authority vessel to Umm Qasr. The Ambassador directed the Embassy's USLO office to coordinate MbZ's visit with CENTCOM. CENTCOM did a spectacular job facilitating the visit and provided security for MbZ and his entourage during their two-and-a-half hours on the ground in Baghdad. The Embassy's Acting USLO Chief accompanied the Emirati delegation. ¶4. (C) During his tour of the hospital, MbZ was briefed that the hospital receives approximately 1,000 new patients every day. Recent press reports indicate that Iraqis from areas outside of Baghdad are traveling to the hospital for medical treatment. Acting USLO Chief personally witnessed a queue of Iraqis seeking medical treatment leading outside of the hospital and down the street; it is clear that the hospital's staff is overwhelmed, but coping. Following his visit to the hospital, MbZ dropped by the Rashid Hotel where the UAE hospital staff are billeted, and the UAE Embassy in Baghdad to meet with the staff. ¶5. (C) Comment: The short visit to Baghdad was a win- win for everyone involved -- the UAE leadership saw firsthand the hospital's operations and facilities, and recognized the essential roles played by both CENTCOM and the Embassy in facilitating the delivery and set-up of this hospital. On the return trip, MbZ's staff requested USG assistance in evacuating wounded Iraqis who require specialized medical care not available in Iraq. We currently are coordinating with the UAE Red Crescent to evacuate 37 injured Iraqis (mostly children) to the UAE. End comment. Albright