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