UAE ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ FROM 2003-2006

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000389 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/I AND NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PHUM ECON PREL IZ AE SUBJECT: UAE ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ FROM 2003-2006 REF: A. 06 ABU DHABI 04474 ¶B. ABU DHABI 101 ¶1. (SBU) On March 7, 2007 Yousef Al Otaiba International Affairs Director for the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court provided Ambassador with a matrix of UAE assistance to Iraq from 2003-2006. ¶2. (SBU) According to the matrix, the UAE Armed Forces provided 129,857,752 dhs ($35,287,433) from 2003-2005 and 19,692,965 dhs ($5,351,350) in 2006 for a total donation of 149,550,718 dhs ($40,638,782). An additional $1,600,000 donation, not included in the 2003-2006 assistance figures, was also provided by the UAE Armed Forces. Although the matrix did not provide a breakdown of the type of donations provided, post believes they are likely to be in-kind donations and training. The matrix also contains a note that not all assistance by the UAE armed forces is included in the numbers provided. ¶3. (SBU) The UAE Red Crescent Society provided 116,292,474 dhs ($31,601,216) in 2003, 6,870,242 dhs ($1,866,914) in 2004, 13,023,289 dhs ($3,538,937) in 2005 and 11,347,332 dhs ($3,083,514) in 2006 for a total of 147,533,337 dhs ($40,090,580) of cash and in-kind assistance to Iraq from 2003-2006. In a December 2006 meeting with the Red Crescent, officials said the charity provided 143,152,000 dhs (38.9 million USD) in assistance to Iraq from 2002-2006. Most of the assistance was in-kind donations of food, blankets, clothing, and medical treatment. (Refs A and B). (Note. The assistance numbers provided by Al Otaiba for the Red Crescent's donations from 2003-2006 are higher than the figures provided earlier by the Red Crescent which also include 2002. End note.) ¶4. (SBU) The Finance Department of Abu Dhabi did not provide any assistance to Iraq in 2003-2004, but provided in-kind assistance of 4,407,600 dhs ($1,197,717) in 2005 and 30,118,600 dhs ($8,814,402) of in-kind assistance in 2006 for a total of 34,526,200 dhs ($9,382,120) in 2005-2006. ¶5. (SBU) Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation allocated 500,000 dhs ($136,240) to Iraq in 2003. Although this money has not yet been disbursed, it is still available for disbursement. The Foundation did not provide any assistance in 2004-2006. Post will follow up with the Foundation. SISON