TFUS01: UAE OFFERS $100 MN IN HURRICANE KATRINA

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003746 SIPDIS PASS TO USAID/OFDA, NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ECON EFIN AEMR KPAO CASC MARR AMGT US TC SUBJECT: TFUS01: UAE OFFERS $100 MN IN HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF REF: A. 9/5 TFUS01 M. LABONTE-AMB SISON TELCON ¶B. 9/4 AMB SISON-DAS GRAY TELCON ¶C. ABU DHABI 3735 ¶1. Sultan Al Rumaithi, Office Director for Deputy PM/MinState Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamden Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, informed Ambassador today that the UAEG was prepared to extend $100 million dollars in assistance for Hurricane Katrina Relief. A UAEG inter-ministerial committee has been formed to coordinate the donation, including representatives from the President,s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Abu Dhabi Emirate Ministry of Finance, and the UAE Red Crescent Society. ¶2. We understand that assistance will be a combination -- proportions yet to be clarified -- of in-kind and cash donations. In-kind donation items being considered by the UAEG include MREs, medical aid, and bedding. UAEG plans to contract with American companies to purchase and convey the in-kind donations, according to Al Rumaithi. ¶3. Ambassador expressed USG appreciation for the generous offer and said she would inform Washington immediately. ¶4. Action Request: Request Department authorization to accept the UAEG,s offer and begin processing the donation. SISON