TERRORIST FINANCE: POST-VETTING OF HUMAN APPEAL

S E C R E T KHARTOUM 000214 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EB/ESC/TFS LEANNE CANNON, EB/ESC/TFS KATHERINE LEAHY, S/CT PATTY HILL E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017 TAGS: EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC PREL ECON SU SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCE: POST-VETTING OF HUMAN APPEAL INTERNATIONAL (HAI) REF: SECSTATE 015260 Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) ORCA reports that it has no information on Human Appeal International's (HAI) activities in Sudan. However, HAI, which is based in Ajman, United Arab Emirates, has strong ties to HAMAS and has raised funds on its behalf. HAI is also believed to have a close relationship with the International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO),which is one of the major Saudi Arabian humanitarian organizations suspected of maintaining links with al-Qaeda. IIRO remains the most important Saudi relief agency. Usama bin Ladin used the entire IIRO network for his terrorist activities. In the opinion of ORCA, it is unknown what action the Sudanese Government would take against HAI if pressed. It notes that HAMAS maintains an office in Khartoum with Sudanese Government approval and that the Government considers HAMAS to be freedom fighters vice terrorists. ¶2. (C) USAID staff based in both Khartoum and Darfur have never/never heard of HAI and its work in Darfur. This is despite the fact that HAI's website clearly trumpets its emergency health care, primary health care, food aid, and agricultural support activities in Darfur. USAID and other donor agencies are active in all areas of Darfur and are capable of replacing whatever relief services HAI may provide, through either international or local NGOs. No legal boundaries or limitations prevent the host government from assuming these charitable services; however, the Government of Sudan is unlikely to do so in practice as the lion's share of relief activities in Darfur are borne by the international community. ¶3. (C) The designation of HAI as a terrorist organization will surely be decried by certain actors in the host government and in the press, but there will likely be no further fallout. The assumption of HAI's relief work by USG agencies or those of other donors will likely go unnoticed. HUME