Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI3178
2003-07-07 13:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAEG LARGEST AID DONOR TO THE PALESTINIANS
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 03/21/2007 12:22:36 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: CONFIDENTIAL SIPDIS TELEGRAM July 07, 2003 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 3178 - ROUTINE) TAGS: EAID, PREL, PGOV, PHUM, KPAL, KWBG Captions: None Subject: UAEG LARGEST AID DONOR TO THE PALESTINIANS Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 03178 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: POL INFO: RSO AMB DCM P/M ECON DISSEMINATION: POL CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB: MWAHBA DRAFTED: ECON:CCRUMPLER CLEARED: ADCM:KVANDEVATE C/ECON:OJOHN C/POL:JMAYBURY POL:MMENARD VZCZCADI850 RR RUEHC RUEHXK RUEHDE DE RUEHAD #3178 1881302 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 071302Z JUL 03 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0753 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 3260
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003178
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA, NEA/ARP, NEA/IPA, AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/08
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV PHUM KPAL KWBG TC
SUBJECT: UAEG LARGEST AID DONOR TO THE PALESTINIANS
REF: ABU DHABI 3117
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003178
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA, NEA/ARP, NEA/IPA, AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/08
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV PHUM KPAL KWBG TC
SUBJECT: UAEG LARGEST AID DONOR TO THE PALESTINIANS
REF: ABU DHABI 3117
1. (U) Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba for
reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).
2. (C) Summary and comment: Despite ongoing humanitarian
assistance activities in Afghanistan and now Iraq, the UAEG
is continuing its robust aid programs to the Palestinians.
The UAEG already has channeled nearly USD 78 million in
project assistance to Palestinians in the West Bank and
Gaza Strip since September 2000, and pledged an additional
USD 42 million at the 2003 Sharm Al-Sheikh (USD 21 million)
and 2002 Beirut (USD 21 million) Summits -- making the UAE
the largest Arab aid donor to the Palestinians since the
Intifadah began more than two years ago (see reftel).
3. (C) Summary and comment continued: The majority of both
official and private contributions generally are funneled
through the government-controlled Red Crescent Authority
(RCA),which in turn provides the assistance to the
Palestinians in the form of project aid and goods -- not
cash. The RCA created in August 2002 a separate oversight
committee consisting of RCA, UNRWA, and Palestinian
Authority representatives to track implementation of these
projects. We are confident that oversight of RCA
operations is of a high standard. As some measure of the
UAEG's desire to ensure that donations are not misdirected
or misused, Emirati officials have assured us time and
again that funds are transferred through legitimate
channels and no monies go to the families of
homicide/suicide bombers. End summary and comment.
RCA Administers Official Aid
--------------
4. (U) The RCA, chaired by de facto Minister of Foreign
Affairs Shaykh Hamdan bin Zayid Al-Nahyan, has provided
large amounts of humanitarian aid, such as blankets and
medicines, to the Palestinians in recent years, and
organized regional food and clothing drives across the UAE
in 2002. The RCA also announced in August 2002 detailed
plans to rebuild 800 housing units and various
infrastructure facilities destroyed during Israeli
incursions into Jenin at a cost of USD 27 million. As a
result of its positive efforts, the RCA is one of the few
Arab humanitarian organizations permitted by Israeli
authorities to continue working in Israeli occupied areas.
Royal Family Contributions Are Significant...
--------------
5. (U) Although we do not have official tallies, the
private donations of royal family members to the
Palestinians certainly total tens of millions of dollars.
Most recently, local press announced July 5 the generous
USD 1 million donation by Shaykha Fatima bint Mubarak Al-
Kitbi -- President Zayid's wife and UAE First Lady --
toward the construction of the Shaykha Fatima
Rehabilitation Center For Disabled Children in Hebron. The
RCA, the International Labor Organization, and the UN
Development Program are supervising the construction of the
USD 3.5 million facility, which will provide vocational
training to approximately 700,000 disabled Palestinians.
6. (U) President Zayid bin Sultan Al-Nahyan likewise
undertook in April 2002 to personally bear the cost of
repairing damage inflicted on the Church of the Nativity
and nearby Omar Mosque as a result of the three-week long
standoff between Israeli forces and Palestinians holed up
in the church compound. Shaykh Zayid instructed the RCA to
initiate contact with mosque and church authorities in
Bethlehem and begin renovations immediately.
...As Are Private Donations
--------------
7. (U) There has also been an enormous outpouring of
private UAE donations to the Palestinians. Fundraising
campaigns conducted in Abu Dhabi and Dubai raised close to
USD 100 million in 2002. UAE embassies abroad and local
government offices have been encouraged to collectively
donate one day's salary to assist the Palestinian refugees
in Jenin, and students' groups and other civic associations
have rallied to the cause. Funds raised through such
public campaigns are funneled through the RCA in Abu Dhabi
or the Shaykh Mohammed bin Rashid Charitable Foundation in
the case of Dubai.
Wahba
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA, NEA/ARP, NEA/IPA, AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/08
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV PHUM KPAL KWBG TC
SUBJECT: UAEG LARGEST AID DONOR TO THE PALESTINIANS
REF: ABU DHABI 3117
1. (U) Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba for
reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).
2. (C) Summary and comment: Despite ongoing humanitarian
assistance activities in Afghanistan and now Iraq, the UAEG
is continuing its robust aid programs to the Palestinians.
The UAEG already has channeled nearly USD 78 million in
project assistance to Palestinians in the West Bank and
Gaza Strip since September 2000, and pledged an additional
USD 42 million at the 2003 Sharm Al-Sheikh (USD 21 million)
and 2002 Beirut (USD 21 million) Summits -- making the UAE
the largest Arab aid donor to the Palestinians since the
Intifadah began more than two years ago (see reftel).
3. (C) Summary and comment continued: The majority of both
official and private contributions generally are funneled
through the government-controlled Red Crescent Authority
(RCA),which in turn provides the assistance to the
Palestinians in the form of project aid and goods -- not
cash. The RCA created in August 2002 a separate oversight
committee consisting of RCA, UNRWA, and Palestinian
Authority representatives to track implementation of these
projects. We are confident that oversight of RCA
operations is of a high standard. As some measure of the
UAEG's desire to ensure that donations are not misdirected
or misused, Emirati officials have assured us time and
again that funds are transferred through legitimate
channels and no monies go to the families of
homicide/suicide bombers. End summary and comment.
RCA Administers Official Aid
--------------
4. (U) The RCA, chaired by de facto Minister of Foreign
Affairs Shaykh Hamdan bin Zayid Al-Nahyan, has provided
large amounts of humanitarian aid, such as blankets and
medicines, to the Palestinians in recent years, and
organized regional food and clothing drives across the UAE
in 2002. The RCA also announced in August 2002 detailed
plans to rebuild 800 housing units and various
infrastructure facilities destroyed during Israeli
incursions into Jenin at a cost of USD 27 million. As a
result of its positive efforts, the RCA is one of the few
Arab humanitarian organizations permitted by Israeli
authorities to continue working in Israeli occupied areas.
Royal Family Contributions Are Significant...
--------------
5. (U) Although we do not have official tallies, the
private donations of royal family members to the
Palestinians certainly total tens of millions of dollars.
Most recently, local press announced July 5 the generous
USD 1 million donation by Shaykha Fatima bint Mubarak Al-
Kitbi -- President Zayid's wife and UAE First Lady --
toward the construction of the Shaykha Fatima
Rehabilitation Center For Disabled Children in Hebron. The
RCA, the International Labor Organization, and the UN
Development Program are supervising the construction of the
USD 3.5 million facility, which will provide vocational
training to approximately 700,000 disabled Palestinians.
6. (U) President Zayid bin Sultan Al-Nahyan likewise
undertook in April 2002 to personally bear the cost of
repairing damage inflicted on the Church of the Nativity
and nearby Omar Mosque as a result of the three-week long
standoff between Israeli forces and Palestinians holed up
in the church compound. Shaykh Zayid instructed the RCA to
initiate contact with mosque and church authorities in
Bethlehem and begin renovations immediately.
...As Are Private Donations
--------------
7. (U) There has also been an enormous outpouring of
private UAE donations to the Palestinians. Fundraising
campaigns conducted in Abu Dhabi and Dubai raised close to
USD 100 million in 2002. UAE embassies abroad and local
government offices have been encouraged to collectively
donate one day's salary to assist the Palestinian refugees
in Jenin, and students' groups and other civic associations
have rallied to the cause. Funds raised through such
public campaigns are funneled through the RCA in Abu Dhabi
or the Shaykh Mohammed bin Rashid Charitable Foundation in
the case of Dubai.
Wahba