EMBASSY DAMASCUS PROPOSALS FOR OUTREACH TO IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000700

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PRM/FO, PRM/ANE, AMMAN FOR GREEN, JERUSALEM FOR
BROOKS-RUBIN, NEA/ELA FOR WILLIAMS AND SONTY,

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017
TAGS: PREF SY
SUBJECT: EMBASSY DAMASCUS PROPOSALS FOR OUTREACH TO IRAQ
COMMUNITY


Classified By: Charg d'Affaires Michael H. Corbin for reasons 1.4 b/d


1. (SBU) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 7.


2. (C) SUMMARY: While PRM and the Department direct
assistance for the up to 1.4 million Iraqis in Syria through
the U.N. and international organizations, Post sees potential
to explore and create additional, albeit modest,
opportunities locally for assistance from within Syria
through non-SARG channels. Part of this will depend on
Washington's ability to support such efforts financially,
while the other part will hinge on human resources here both
inside and outside the Embassy. We envision our efforts as
being focused in four principal areas: exploring avenues for
additional assistance, identifying projects, delivery, and
follow up. END SUMMARY.


3. (C) AVENUES FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE: The Iraqi refugee
crisis has long loomed large in Syria, but up until recently
the response has been constrained by the regime's efforts to
monitor and control international organizations, the scarcity
of international and non-governmental organizations in Syria,
and by the enormity of the assistance needed. While PRM and
the Department direct assistance for the up to 1.4 million
Iraqis in Syria via international organizations and
well-known non-governmental organizations, Post sees
potential to explore and create additional, albeit modest,
opportunities locally for assistance from within Syria
through non-SARG channels.


4. (C) The Embassy would reach out to a variety of contacts
to pursue implementation partners. We propose, for example:

-- Charg already meets with the Iraqi Charg to discuss
Iraqi refugee issues. Charg could press his Iraqi
counterpart for suggestions by the Iraqi Embassy of some
unfunded Iraqi proposals. (Note: In a June 13 meeting with
PRM/ANE Office Director, Iraqi Charg Hassan Sawedi Abdul
al-Aziz noted that he had sent proposals to Baghdad on ways
to assist the local Iraqi population, particularly the
children who suffer from poor living conditions and a lack of
education opportunities. He was not optimistic that he would
receive the go ahead. End Note.) If funding can be directed
through the U.S. Embassy in coordination with the Iraqi
Embassy here, we might be able to use some local Iraqi
Embassy networks, which are perhaps also less likely to be
hampered by the SARG.

-- Department might ask Embassy Baghdad to look into the
likelihood that Iraqi citizens with an NGO background have
fled to Syria and could possibly assist in project
development and implementation. This of course would have to
be done in a low-profile manner since the SARG requires that
all foreign organizations operating here be licensed.
However, such contacts might be able to receive funding
through their organizations in Iraq. Alternately, contacts
might be able to develop burgeoning community groups already
existent here as conduits for direct assistance through
Embassy Damascus.

-- Pursuing alternate ways of channeling assistance locally.
Given the size and diversity of the Iraqi community in Syria,
we would seek to investigate the hypothesis that Syria-based
Iraqi community groups are developing locally. We would seek
to identify such community groups through meetings with local
and international non-governmental organizations, church
groups and mosques and Iraqi political representatives based
in Syria and then direct assistance through them.


5. (C) PROJECT PROPOSALS: With funding and partners, Post
believes that there are a number of small-scale projects that
could positively influence the lives of an admittedly small
percentage of Iraqi refugees but that have a potential
multiplier effect to galvanize other embassies and funding
sources to conduct similar projects. For example, Embassy
Damascus has received a grant proposal from the International
Orthodox Christian Charities group, which is seeking USD
20,000 to assist at least 700 highly vulnerable Iraqis
through distribution of non-food items, vocational training,
one-time medical assistance, and the donation of a computer
to an organization that assists Iraqi refugees. Post also
envisions projects that might include Internet training for

Iraqi youths, English-language training for Iraqi teachers,
the distribution of Arabic-language books for Iraqi children,
and assisting the Iraqi Embassy with initiatives such as the
creation of an Iraqi community center. Other possibilities
include the provision of scholarships to Iraqi students for
formal and vocational education and English language training
at local private-sector language centers.


6. (C) Given the limited personnel resources at Post and the
security constraints that prevent the expansion of staff,
Post would focus on the most promising projects first,
expanding on our initial efforts depending on outcomes. We
would also share experiences with other diplomatic missions
in Damascus in an effort to encourage similar efforts from
the wider international community.


7. (C) Action Request: Post seeks Department's reaction to
Post pursuing small projects through NGOs, the Iraqi Embassy
in Damascus, or Iraqi individuals/networks among the refugee
population here. Among the issues Post believes need to be
addressed:

-- What funds could be tapped for this purpose and how can
they be passed through Embassy Damascus?

-- If funds could be passed through Embassy Damascus, given
the low-profile, semi-formal nature of the organizations and
networks that we would seek to support, what--taking into
account the personnel constraints at Post--would be the
required amount of controls, evaluation and monitoring
required of the Embassy with regard to USG funds?

-- Can money be given to the Iraqi Embassy here to support
appropriate projects for Iraqi refugees (or could funds going
to Baghdad be delivered through the Iraqi Embassy here rather
than in Baghdad)?
CORBIN