TFUS01: KUWAITIS AND OTHERS OFFER OUTPOURING OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003960 SIPDIS STATE FOR TASK FORCE 1, NEA, EB LONDON FOR TSOU PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR EAID PREL ENRG KU US KATRINA AID SUBJECT: TFUS01: KUWAITIS AND OTHERS OFFER OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT TO HURRICANE KATRINA VICTIMS REF: A. KUWAIT 3947 ¶B. KUWAIT 3951 ¶1. Summary and Comment: The private sector response in Kuwait to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina has been overwhelmingly supportive and positive, with dozens of offers of support and solidarity streaming in from all sectors and segments of society. The Kuwait Red Crescent Society is accepting donations, while other Kuwaiti NGOs have published expressions of support and called for coordinated aid campaigns. The Kuwaiti and American business sectors have approached the Ambassador seeking ways to help, and numerous private individuals have offered either monetary assistance or volunteer help as needed. While some Islamist parliament members have been critical of the GOK's offer of $500 million in assistance to the U.S., many other Islamists have sent messages of support to the Embassy. ¶2. Comment: The outpouring of support from Kuwaitis demonstrates the historically close ties between our countries and the length to which some Kuwaitis think of the U.S. as a second home. Many elements of the mission have received dozens of phone calls, faxes, emails, and text messages from the public who sympathize with Americans affected by this event. Besides the mix of young and old, liberal and conservative, and men and women who have contacted the Embassy offering their support and assistance, we have seen long-time contacts reaffirm their strong ties to the U.S. as well as new contacts who can barely compose an email in English yet wish to offer words of support. Those who studied in the U.S., particularly at institutions in and around New Orleans, have been the most affected, with many volunteering to go to New Orleans and help with the remediation efforts. (For media reaction, please see Ref B.) End Summary and Comment. An Outpouring of Support -------------- ¶3. Over the past week we have seen a continuous stream of positive support and messages of solidarity from individuals and private sector groups in Kuwait in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. The Embassy has received dozens of condolences as well as offers of support and solidarity from all segments of society, and they continue to arrive daily. By fax, email, phone calls and in personal conversations, offices throughout the mission are receiving messages of support and offers of financial and material assistance, large and small, from a broad swath of Kuwaiti society. Representatives of civil society, as well as the medical, academic, business, and religious communities have joined their voices to that of the Government of Kuwait. ¶4. We also are receiving messages of support and solidarity from the significant third-country national community in Kuwait, which consists of many people whose families and lives were affected by the December 2004 tsunami in Asia and know firsthand the suffering of the people affected by Hurricane Katrina. The striking thing about the messages of support is how many represent people who have studied, lived, or vacationed in the U.S. Many of them have spent time in New Orleans and felt a particular connection to the city and people singularly affected by this tragedy. "I studied there," said one caller, "and am ready to provide whatever assistance is needed." Offers of Private Donations Directed to Red Cross and Red Crescent -------------- -------------- ¶5. In addition to the strong showing of compassion by our Kuwaiti contacts, Post has also received numerous inquiries from American citizens. We have directed inquirers to the American Red Cross, asking people to make cash donations through the RedCross.org website. For those who wish to do something locally, we are referring them to the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS),which is collecting donations on behalf of the Red Cross. The KRCS was originally planning to conduct a public campaign, but decided against it when the GOK announced the $500 million assistance package for the U.S. (Ref A). Other organizations have expressed interest in doing some sort of coordinated campaign. The Business Sector Steps Up -------------- ¶6. The business sector in Kuwait has reached out to the Embassy with offers of support. Leading Kuwaiti members of the American Kuwaiti Alliance have been in contact with the Ambassador seeking opportunities to involve the Kuwaiti private sector. At the same time, members of the American Business Council in Kuwait (ABC-K) also have reached out to the Embassy and are planning a coordinated campaign among its members. One of the morning hosts of a local Kuwaiti radio station has initiated an effort to "adopt" a family from the disaster area, and other creative offers of assistance continue to be brought to the attention of American and locally-employed staff of the Embassy. ******************************************** Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ******************************************** LEBARON