QATAR'S ASSISTANCE TO LEBANON

UNCLAS DOHA 001268 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL LE QA SUBJECT: QATAR'S ASSISTANCE TO LEBANON REF: STATE 138390 ¶1. Mohamed al-Rumaihy, Assistant to the Foreign Minister and Vice Chairman of the Qatari National Committee for the Relief of the Lebanese People, told Ambassador August 22 that his country has spent USD 10-11 million post-conflict in Lebanon to date. He returned from a trip to Lebanon August 20 and will attend the Donors Conference in Sweden August 31. He said he did not yet know how much Qatar will pledge, but he had proposed USD 300 million over three years. He outlined Qatar's actions so far as follows: -- Donation of two mobile field hospitals (which continue to operate in various Lebanese towns); -- Contribution of one rescue team (which recovered 20 bodies and one person alive); -- Repair and equipping of one Red Cross and one government hospital in the south; -- Pledge to rebuild the southern Lebanese towns of Bint Jbail and al-Khiam (the cost of which he could not estimate); -- Establishment of 12 aid distribution stations in the country (handed over to Qatari charitable organizations for management); and -- USD 500,000 contribution to UNICEF for Lebanese children. (Rumaihy did not report this; comes from local news reports.) ¶2. Embassy delivered reftel points to the Foreign Ministry August 23. Rumaihy had told the Ambassdor in the August 22 meeting, however, that Qatar does not currently have plans to contribute military items beyond the field hospital, but he said Qatar could contribute some light equipment such as trucks. Qatar does not have the resources or authority to contribute advanced military hardware. A military officer, Rumaihy noted during his Lebanon visit that the Army needs capacity in a number of areas, including light infantry and military police. Post will continue to engage GOQ officials in the run-up to the August 31 conference in Sweden. UNTERMEYER