MGXDO1: KUWAIT EARTHQUAKE ASSISTANCE UPDATE

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004534 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI SWALKER, SA/FO FOR JGASTRIGHT, LONDON FOR LTSOU, ISLAMABAD FOR TWILDER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL AMGT XD KU SUBJECT: MGXDO1: KUWAIT EARTHQUAKE ASSISTANCE UPDATE REF: A. SECSTATE 195483 ¶B. KUWAIT 4398 ¶1. (U) This is the second update from Post on Kuwaiti assistance to the victims of the South Asia earthquake. ¶2. (U) Press reports over the last week cite planeloads of Kuwait Red Crescent Society relief assistance arriving in Pakistan and being channeled through the Pakistani Red Crescent Society (PRCS) bringing food, tents and blankets to victims. Another plane was expected to arrive on Thursday with 10,000 tents and 100,000 blankets provided by KRCS. KRCS has apparently rented a storehouse in Pakistan ($6000/month rent, according to press reports) to store food items as necessary. ¶3. (U) The Kuwaiti Ambassador to Pakistan, Faisal Al-Mualifi, noted in an interview with the Kuwait News Agency, that the GOK would focus its assistance efforts on food items, medicines, tents and blankets. The Acting Under Secretary at the Kuwait Finance Ministry also confirmed to Econcouns (reported septel) that KRCS's $50M share of the overall GOK $100M pledge would be transmitted to the Red Crescent "today or tomorrow." ¶4. (U) KRCS efforts have also been augmented by an initial $100K contribution by the Kuwait Joint Relief Committee (KJRC),which was announced on October 18 by KJRC delegation head, Badur Al-Shamrekh, during a visit to Islamabad. Al-Shamrekh indicated that KJRC will also contribute to constructing small houses for displaced victims. ¶5. (U) Post plans to meet with KRCS and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials before the October 26 Geneva Donors Conference (reftel A) to encourage continued GOK support to help address outstanding needs as described in reftel. ********************************************* Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website ********************************************* LEBARON