Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI94
2004-01-07 11:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

A "FRIEND" INDEED, UAE ASSISTANCE TO IRAN POST BAM

Tags:  PHUM EAID PREL OFDA IR TC 
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Diana T Fritz 03/15/2007 04:11:52 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM January 07, 2004


To: No Action Addressee 

Action: Unknown 

From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 94 - ROUTINE) 

TAGS: PHUM, EAID, PREL 

Captions: None 

Subject: A "FRIEND" INDEED, UAE ASSISTANCE TO IRAN POST BAM 

Ref: None 
_________________________________________________________________
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 00094

SIPDIS
CXABU:
 ACTION: ECON 
 INFO: POL P/M AMB DCM 
Laser1:
 INFO: FCS 

DISSEMINATION: ECON
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: DCM: RALBRIGHT
DRAFTED: ECON:HALGHAZOU
CLEARED: ECON:OJOHN, CGD:AEYRE

VZCZCADI344
RR RUEHC RUEHDI RUCNIRA RHEFDIA
DE RUEHAD #0094 0071146
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 071146Z JAN 04
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2947
INFO RUEHDI/AMCONSUL DUBAI 3650
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000094 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM EAID PREL OFDA IR TC
SUBJECT: A "FRIEND" INDEED, UAE ASSISTANCE TO IRAN POST BAM

REF: DUBAI 14

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000094

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM EAID PREL OFDA IR TC
SUBJECT: A "FRIEND" INDEED, UAE ASSISTANCE TO IRAN POST BAM

REF: DUBAI 14


1. The UAE responded quickly to the earthquake in the
Iranian city of Bam by providing humanitarian assistance
including tents, blankets, food and medicines. The Abu
Dhabi based, UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) and the Dubai
based Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity
Establishment (MBR Charitable Foundation) coordinated the
assistance program. By December 28 (two days after the
earthquake),the UAE had sent 5 planes to Iran (4 through
the MBR Charitable Foundation and 1 via the RCA). So far,
the UAE has sent Iran a total of 7 aircraft loaded with
relief supplies and personnel, although this number could
increase. Relief supplies include: blankets, tents,
jackets, tons of canned food, milk, fish, vegetables, fat
(cooking oil) and medicine.


2. Immediately after the earthquake, General Sheikh Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defense
Minister ordered the MBR Charitable foundation to extend
every possible assistance to Iran. It launched a
humanitarian campaign on December 27, in cooperation with
other humanitarian organizations including Sharjah Charity
Organization, Dubai Aid City, Dubai Charity Organization and
Human Appeal International to send supplies from Dubai to
Iran. According to Ibrahim Bu Melha, Vice Chairman of the
Board of Trustees of the MBR Charitable Foundation, who
traveled to Iran to supervise the relief operation, aid was
provided in 3 stages: 1) urgent aid including: food,
blankets and medicines, 2) help the hospitals and other
needs like electricity and water and 3) reconstruction.


3. The MBR Foundation has provided five aircraft loads of
assistance including: 9 rescue cars, 650 tents, 6 loads of
rescue equipment, 3 loads of medical appliances and food,
355 bundles of blankets, 650 tents, 2 ambulances and 6 large
tents used for clinics.


4. Dubai also sent police rescue teams, doctors and sniffer
dogs to Iran. The Dubai Police Rescue Department sent a 38
man heavy urban search team. The head of the medical team,
Dr. Ahmed Al Jazir, head of the Surgical Department at
Rashid Hospital said that an eight-member team ran a 24-hour
clinic at the crisis zone. The medical team included: a
pediatric surgeon, an orthopedic surgeon, an
anesthesiologist, a neurosurgeon, a vascular surgeon and a
general surgeon.


5. The RCA provided a total of 664,000 Dirhams ( USD 179,00)
worth of assistance in two airplane loads. According to
Press reports and the RCA, the RCA send over 60 tons of
supplies, including: 494 tents, 250 parcels of food, 4,300
kg rice, 2,728 blankets, 70 boxes of emergency medical
supplies, 3,315 units of serum, 4,200 units of serums for
children, 400 cartons of medical supplies, 500 cartons of
banana milkshake, 50 cartons of milk, 1070 cartons of
chocolates, 50 cartons of venous injections. According to
press reports, the RCA also assisted in rescue efforts.


6. Other UAE organizations are also collecting funds for the
victims. Some of the organizations mentioned in the papers
include: The Jumeirah Islamic Learning Center, The Indian
Association in Sharjah, Sharjah Charity Association, Iranian
school in Abu Dhabi (Dh. 185,000),The Pakistan Social
Center, Sharjah and Sheikh Zayed Charity and Humanitarian
Foundation.


7. Comment: According to press reports, the UAE was the
first Arab country to assist Iran and this is the 3rd time
that it has provided assistance to Iran after an earthquake.
The fact that Dubai has provided the lion's share of the
assistance is not surprising given Dubai's large Iranian
community and the long-standing ties between the two. End
Comment.

WAHBA