UAE AND REQUEST FOR HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001880 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: 06/06/09 TAGS: PREL EAID PHUM TC SUBJECT: UAE AND REQUEST FOR HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT FOR DARFUR REF: STATE 122317 (U) Classified by Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Hilary Olsin-Windecker, reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Post discussed reftel points with UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for Arabian Affairs Mohamed Ateeq Bandouq Al-Qumzi on June 7. Al-Qumzi told Polchief that he appreciated the information and noted that the UAEG had already taken several measures to respond to the Darfur crisis. He said the UAEG would continue to look at ways to assist the thousands of people in Darfur who are at risk, and he did not exclude further diplomatic and humanitarian intervention. ¶2. (C) Al-Qumzi said that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shaykh Hamdan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan told a visiting delegation from the Sudan on June 7 about the UAE's ongoing humanitarian assistance to Darfur, and urged the Government of Sudan to end its support for the militia that are terrorizing the population in Darfur. The Sudanese delegation reportedly told Shaykh Hamdan that the GOS knows that Sudanese opposition political figure Hassan Al-Turabi is behind the militia and the situation is "under control." ¶3. (U) The UAE Red Crescent Authority has spearheaded efforts to assist the displaced in Darfur, with aircraft carrying 300 tents and 1,500 blankets to the region, according to local press reports. RCA is working with UNICEF on a child immunization campaign targeting killer diseases. The Sharjah Charity Organization has sent medical and food relief to Darfur as well. The Mohamed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation has signed a joint cooperation agreement among charitable organizations in the UAE and their Sudanese counterparts for the purpose of aiding Darfur. The MbR foundation is providing education services to the displaced, as well as food aid and help with rehabilitating the region's infrastructure. Al-Qumzi of the MFA said that he has requested and is awaiting comprehensive information about aid to Darfur from RCA. Total UAE relief assistance to the Sudan in recent years has reached USD 3.7 million, according to press reports. WAHBA