Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ALGIERS524
2008-05-09 10:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:
REQUEST FOR SPECIAL MILAIR MEDEVAC FOR SICK
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAS #0524 1301043 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 091043Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5757 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY INFO RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
UNCLAS ALGIERS 000524
SIPDIS
FROM AMBASSADOR FORD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR AG
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR SPECIAL MILAIR MEDEVAC FOR SICK
ALGERIAN CHILD
UNCLAS ALGIERS 000524
SIPDIS
FROM AMBASSADOR FORD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR AG
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR SPECIAL MILAIR MEDEVAC FOR SICK
ALGERIAN CHILD
1. A group of Algerians here in Algiers and in the USA has
asked the Embassy for USG help airlifting a small child to
the U.S. for medical treatment, and our doing so would be a
terrific humanitarian gesture that the Algerian public would
deeply appreciate. The two and one-half year old child named
Tayeb Mounib Ferchichi, who suffers from Spina Bifida, is in
the Mustapha hospital in Algiers. According to his doctor
here in Algiers, Tayeb needs two separate surgeries: one to
correct his malformed spine and another to correct a hole in
his back. The child was in a coma but midday April 8 came
out. No hospital here can provide the surgeries, and care at
the Mustapha hospital is rudimentary. The Algerian-American
Business Association in Washington has secured an offer from
the Mayo Clinic to treat Tayeb gratis on humanitarian
grounds. The challenge now is to get Tayeb to the U.S.
Tayeb's family here has no resources, and the Algerian
government will not provide resources, at least in any kind
of timely manner. The Algerian-American group in the U.S.
has raised some funds to help pay of a medevac flight, but
the USD 83,000 needed for a commercial medevac well beyond
what they have raised so far.
2. In Algerian culture children hold a special place, and
Tayeb's case has already received coverage in the Algerian
independent media, especially Arabic-language papers usually
critical of the United States. Our making available a
military plane to fly this child to Rochester, Minnesota
would generate outstanding media coverage for the U.S. -
showcasing the generosity and positive capabilities of our
military at a time when the public here generally is quite
antipathetic about U.S. military operations in Guantanamo,
Iraq and Afghanistan, and also deeply suspicious of our
intent behind AFRICOM. It would make a powerful statement
about how AFRICOM can respond quickly even in a simple
humanitarian case. This, matched with the Mayo Clinic's
generous offer, and the role played by Algerian Muslims
living in the U.S. would be a strong message that the U.S. is
a friend to the Algerian people.
FORD
SIPDIS
FROM AMBASSADOR FORD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR AG
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR SPECIAL MILAIR MEDEVAC FOR SICK
ALGERIAN CHILD
1. A group of Algerians here in Algiers and in the USA has
asked the Embassy for USG help airlifting a small child to
the U.S. for medical treatment, and our doing so would be a
terrific humanitarian gesture that the Algerian public would
deeply appreciate. The two and one-half year old child named
Tayeb Mounib Ferchichi, who suffers from Spina Bifida, is in
the Mustapha hospital in Algiers. According to his doctor
here in Algiers, Tayeb needs two separate surgeries: one to
correct his malformed spine and another to correct a hole in
his back. The child was in a coma but midday April 8 came
out. No hospital here can provide the surgeries, and care at
the Mustapha hospital is rudimentary. The Algerian-American
Business Association in Washington has secured an offer from
the Mayo Clinic to treat Tayeb gratis on humanitarian
grounds. The challenge now is to get Tayeb to the U.S.
Tayeb's family here has no resources, and the Algerian
government will not provide resources, at least in any kind
of timely manner. The Algerian-American group in the U.S.
has raised some funds to help pay of a medevac flight, but
the USD 83,000 needed for a commercial medevac well beyond
what they have raised so far.
2. In Algerian culture children hold a special place, and
Tayeb's case has already received coverage in the Algerian
independent media, especially Arabic-language papers usually
critical of the United States. Our making available a
military plane to fly this child to Rochester, Minnesota
would generate outstanding media coverage for the U.S. -
showcasing the generosity and positive capabilities of our
military at a time when the public here generally is quite
antipathetic about U.S. military operations in Guantanamo,
Iraq and Afghanistan, and also deeply suspicious of our
intent behind AFRICOM. It would make a powerful statement
about how AFRICOM can respond quickly even in a simple
humanitarian case. This, matched with the Mayo Clinic's
generous offer, and the role played by Algerian Muslims
living in the U.S. would be a strong message that the U.S. is
a friend to the Algerian people.
FORD