Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ABUDHABI4903
2005-11-30 14:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

CAMEL JOCKEY REPATRIATIONS RECOMMENCE

Tags:  PREL PHUM ELAB AE 
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Diana T Fritz 08/27/2006 05:10:48 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 04903

SIPDIS
CXABU:
 ACTION: POL
 INFO: ECON RSO AMB DCM MEPI P/M

DISSEMINATION: POL
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB:MSISON
DRAFTED: POL:BTHOMSON
CLEARED: POL JMAYBURY CG JDAVIS DCM MQUINN

VZCZCADI987
PP RUEHC RUEHZM RUEHDE
DE RUEHAD #4903 3341447
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 301447Z NOV 05
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2608
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 5606
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004903 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR G/TIP, INL, DRL, NEA/RA AND NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM ELAB AE
SUBJECT: CAMEL JOCKEY REPATRIATIONS RECOMMENCE

REF: A. ABU DHABI 4487

B. ABU DHABI 4737

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004903

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR G/TIP, INL, DRL, NEA/RA AND NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM ELAB AE
SUBJECT: CAMEL JOCKEY REPATRIATIONS RECOMMENCE

REF: A. ABU DHABI 4487

B. ABU DHABI 4737


1. (U) On November 24, the UAEG recommenced repatriations of
camel jockeys to their countries of origin, sending 64 boys
back to Pakistan. Repatriations were temporarily suspended
in October due to the earthquake in Pakistan and the
subsequent social upheaval (ref A). The repatriation of this
latest group brings the total number of children returned
home to 1,004, leaving only 69 children at the Beni Yas
Social Support Center located outside Abu Dhabi.


2. (SBU) The UAE official news agency reported on November
25 that all the remaining children would be returned to their
countries of origin by the end of December, but Colonel Najm
Al Seyyar, director of the Abu Dhabi Social Support Center
within the Ministry of Interior, stated that this report was
inaccurate. Col. Al Seyyar stated that there are still a few
Pakistani children left at the center among the 69, and
perhaps the reporter misunderstood and was speaking only of
the Pakistanis. He added, there are children from several
countries remaining at Beni Yas that have not yet had family
members identified in their home countries and will therefore
remain at the support center until someone is prepared to
receive them. Al Seyyar went on to note that even after the
last child is sent home, the center will remain open for some
time in case any further former child jockeys are located or
identified.


3. (SBU) In May, the Ministry of Interior estimated that
there were 2,700 to 3,000 underage camel jockeys in the UAE
and used that figure in their service contract with UNICEF.
With only 1,073 children identified to date, and no new
children having been identified in over a month, it appears
that the final number of child camel jockeys repatriated from
the UAE will be far less than half of the UAEG's original
estimates. When queried about the disparity, Col. Al Seyyar
responded that the original estimate was based on a visual
estimate of all the children located at a given location and
then extrapolated to the country as a whole. However, once
the identification and repatriation process began it was
discovered that many of the children at any given location
were actually either family members of other employees, or
siblings of jockeys. When the use of underage jockeys was
outlawed, it is conjectured that the family members simply
left and returned home on their own.


4. (SBU) The UNICEF representative in Abu Dhabi, Buthayna Al
Khatib, surmises that the original estimates were hastily
done to make sure that shelters were opened as quickly as
possible. She also said that the camel jockey numbers were
likely overestimated as a way to make sure that sufficient
resources were set aside to care for all the children who
would be eventually located. She noted that UNICEF is fairly
certain that there will be few additional children located in
the UAE, and that the 1,073 children who have received
treatment at the social support centers will be close to the
final total. Gulf News, an English language daily, reported
on November 21 that Rima Salah, Deputy Executive Director and
Assistant Secretary General at UNICEF, stated during a recent
visit to the UAE that UNICEF was "satisfied and happy" with
the UAEG efforts to repatriate and re-integrate the child
camel jockeys.


5. (SBU) Comment: On November 22, Pol Chief received a
message from Ansar Burney claiming that children were seen
training camels in the late evening and early morning hours
in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain, and Umm al Quwain. Several UAEG
and NGO contacts question the credibility of these rumors,
but promise to investigate further. Post continues to
closely monitor all reports. Indications are that the
problem is being addressed and that the UAEG is committed to
abolishing the practice. End Comment.
SISON