UAEG'S PLEDGE OF ASSISTANCE TO AFGHANISTAN -- THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000245 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND SA/PAB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL AF TC SUBJECT: UAEG'S PLEDGE OF ASSISTANCE TO AFGHANISTAN -- THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING REF: 02 STATE 262304 ¶1. (U) Classified by Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Thomas ¶E. Williams for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: According to UAEG reports, the UAE pledged $36 million at the Tokyo Conference and has provided additional humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan totaling approximately $80 million since 9/11, for a total assistance package thus far of approximately $116 million. Of the assistance already distributed, we estimate that the UAEG provided about $53 million in assistance in November and December 2002. The UAEG has supported a wide range of projects, from providing food, housing and clothing to repatriating refugees to building homes, hospitals and mosques. END SUMMARY. Tokyo Pledge -------------- ¶3. (SBU) In a document dated 21 December 2002, the UAEG confirmed that the UAEG pledged $36 million towards the reconstruction of Afghanistan at the January 2002 Tokyo Conference. Of this $36 million, the UAEG allocated $30 million towards reconstruction and $6 million towards humanitarian aid. The latest UAEG reports indicate that the $30 million reconstruction pledge is still pending and awaiting decision-making as to its use. Preliminary UAEG reports state that the reconstruction pledge will likely be used for road reconstruction. Additional UAEG Assistance to the Afghan Government -------------- -------------- ¶6. (U) The UAEG has donated an additional approximate $7.6 million in assistance to the Afghan government, including a donation to the Afghan People's Fund in December 2002, cash assistance in payment of government employee salaries, and in-kind assistance of vehicles and transportation equipment. ¶7. (U) In November 2002, the UAEG delivered an additional $50 million assistance-in-kind donation to the Afghan government. Assistance from the UAE Red Crescent Authority and the H.H. Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment -------------- - ¶5. (U) The UAEG reports that the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) thus far has donated approximately $14 million in additional humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan. ¶6. (U) Of the $14 million RCA donation, assistance valued at about $9.2 million has already been delivered for various projects. Illustrative examples of these projects include building, supplying and operating refugee camps; providing food, clothing, medicines, medical supplies, ambulance cars and transportation vehicles; providing financial aid in support of the educational sector; hosting Ramadan iftars; assisting orphans; and providing computer and communication equipment to the Afghan Red Crescent Society. ¶7. (U) Of the $14 million RCA donation, development projects valued at more than $4.8 million are currently under way, including building villages; reconstructing and maintaining orphanages; building and equipping an Afghan Red Crescent Hospital; digging wells; and building mosques. ¶8. (U) The UAEG also reports that the His Highness Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment has thus far donated approximately $6 million in assistance to Afghanistan. Ad Hoc Contributions by Individuals and NGOs -------------- ¶7. (U) The UAEG reports that a number of individuals and other NGOs have also donated assistance to Afghanistan valued at more than $4 million for projects including assisting refugees, providing armored vehicles for the Afghan government, building orphanages and building a women and children's hospital. Amount delivered in past 2 months -------------- ¶8. (U) The UAEG delivered the following assistance between November 2002 and January 2003: --In November 2002, the UAEG delivered an in-kind donation of $50 million in machinery and equipment to the Afghan government. As part of this package, the UAEG intends to deliver an additional in-kind assistance package of vehicles and IT/media and office equipment to the Afghan government. --In December 2002, the UAEG announced a $3 million donation to the Afghan People's Fund. Type of Assistance and Projects Supported -------------- ¶9. (U) Since 9/11, the UAE's assistance to Afghanistan has supported a wide range of reconstruction and humanitarian projects, including: --payment of government employee salaries; --financial support for the educational sector; --assistance to refugees; --building, operating and supplying refugee camps; --voluntary repatriation of refugees in cooperation with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the Pakistani authorities; --vehicles, including armored vehicles for the President, ambulances, fire trucks; --heavy machinery for civil construction --building, reconditioning and maintaining orphanages; --assistance to orphans; --building and equipping a women and children's hospital; --building and equipping an Afghan Red Crescent hospital; --hosting Ramadan iftars for the poor and needy; --office furniture, equipment and supplies; --communications and IT/media equipment; --food; clothing; medical supplies; medicines; --communication and computer equipment for the Afghan Red Crescent Society; --digging wells; --rebuilding villages; --building mosques. ¶10. (SBU) COMMENT: The UAEG does not generally seek publicity for its charitable giving, even though it does so generously. The UAE has far exceeded its Tokyo pledge. Emirati officials, however, report that they continue to consider additional requests for assistance. END COMMENT. WAHBA