(C/NF) KUWAIT CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR DISPLACED

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003451 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR PRM, NEA/ARP FOR JACKSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2016 TAGS: EAID PGOV PREL OVIP KU SUBJECT: (C/NF) KUWAIT CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR DISPLACED PERSONS/REFUGEE CAMPS Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C/NF) In Ambassador's 23 August meeting at the Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MFA Director for Coordination and Follow-up, Ambassador Khaled Al-Maqamis, said that Kuwait's National Security Bureau (NSB) was beginning contingency planning to manage displaced persons in case of an outbreak of full-scale civil war in Iraq. Al-Maqamis said the matter was being overseen by NSB Director and former Energy Minister Shaykh Ahmad Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. One of the GOK's primary concerns, according to Al-Maqamis, was that refugee camps should be constructed exclusively on the Iraqi side of the Iraq-Kuwait border. Al-Maqamis expressed GOK willingness to provide logistical and material support through the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society, but emphasized that overall operations and administration would need to be coordinated by U.S. and/or UK forces in Iraq. Al-Maqamis said that Kuwaiti Amir Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah may bring up the issue in his 5 September meeting with President Bush. ¶2. (C/NF) From a separate source in the Kuwaiti security services, Defense Attache (DATT) learned that GOK security services have begun planning for the construction of refugee camps in remote areas on the Kuwaiti side of the border. Current plans are to build camps with capacity for up to 100,000 refugees. Plans appear to be at an early stage. DATT will provide further reporting septel. ¶3. (C) Comment: We note the conflicting statements on possible location of camps. It is possible that the GOK is planning for both contingencies -- camps on the Iraq and/or Kuwait side of the border. ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * LeBaron