Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUDHABI20
2009-01-07 13:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE REMINDED OF PALESTINIAN HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
how-toVZCZCXRO1321 PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHAD #0020 0071306 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 071306Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1967 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0217 RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0615 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0263 RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0871 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 1515
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000020
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF EAID KWBG UN IS AE
SUBJECT: UAE REMINDED OF PALESTINIAN HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly.
REF: A) ABU DHABI 0017, B) 08 STATE 135559, C) 08 ABU DHABI 1467
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000020
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF EAID KWBG UN IS AE
SUBJECT: UAE REMINDED OF PALESTINIAN HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly.
REF: A) ABU DHABI 0017, B) 08 STATE 135559, C) 08 ABU DHABI 1467
1. (SBU) Post relayed ref B appeal for donations to UN-related
relief agencies in separate conversations with Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash and MFA Assistant Under Secretary
for Political Affairs Tariq al Haidan. Dr. Gargash acknowledged the
need and told the Ambassador on January 6 that the UAE would shortly
initiate a national appeal for assistance to the Palestinians,
coordinated by the UAE Red Crescent.
2. (SBU) As ref A notes, the Red Crescent has been collecting
humanitarian donations for Gaza in preparation for shipment,
reportedly filling many trucks with donated blankets, clothing, house
wares, foodstuffs, and even candles. The Red Crescent also claimed
on December 31 that it had collected about $1 million from corporate
donors for Gaza aid. The new appeal noted by Dr. Gargash was
advertized in the local press on January 7 as a nation-wide call for
financial or in-kind donations. The official news release notes that
the "nation-wide relief campaign to raise cash and material
donations" was announced by Deputy Prime Minister (and head of the
Red Crescent) Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, to be launched "on all local
TV and radio stations and newspapers in support of our brothers in
the Gaza Strip." While the Red Crescent will coordinate the
campaign, donations are welcome through a variety of
government-affiliated outlets (to include the Zayed Charitable
Foundation, the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Charitable Foundation,
the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and Dubai Cares). The
Red Crescent also maintains donation booths in most shopping malls.
Mosque sermons this Friday are to highlight the appeal and university
students are being mobilized to assist in collections. The
announcement notes that aid will be channeled to Gaza in coordination
with UNICEF and UNRWA. (The national appeal offers an outlet for
productive public action to assist with a Gaza situation which
otherwise simply generates angst and frustration.)
3. (SBU) Separately, post emphasized the UN appeals in a diplomatic
note January 6, which we will share with select government-affiliated
foundations seeking to make donations to Gaza. The Mohammed bin
Rashid Humanitarian and Charity Establishment in Dubai, for example,
has been asking (even before the current crisis) for reliable
organizations through which to assist Gaza. Additionally, press
reports note that the President's charitable organization, the
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, is donating funds to UNRWA
and UNDP. The Foundation told PolOff that their donations would be
in funds, not goods, but were hesitant to tell us the amount.
4. (U) Finally, the Red Crescent is reportedly cooperating with
UNICEF to supply two medical units (presumably small clinics) to
assist children in Gaza. Local news coverage also notes donations of
ambulances by UAE companies, as well as resident doctors willing to
assist in Gaza.
OLSON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF EAID KWBG UN IS AE
SUBJECT: UAE REMINDED OF PALESTINIAN HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly.
REF: A) ABU DHABI 0017, B) 08 STATE 135559, C) 08 ABU DHABI 1467
1. (SBU) Post relayed ref B appeal for donations to UN-related
relief agencies in separate conversations with Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash and MFA Assistant Under Secretary
for Political Affairs Tariq al Haidan. Dr. Gargash acknowledged the
need and told the Ambassador on January 6 that the UAE would shortly
initiate a national appeal for assistance to the Palestinians,
coordinated by the UAE Red Crescent.
2. (SBU) As ref A notes, the Red Crescent has been collecting
humanitarian donations for Gaza in preparation for shipment,
reportedly filling many trucks with donated blankets, clothing, house
wares, foodstuffs, and even candles. The Red Crescent also claimed
on December 31 that it had collected about $1 million from corporate
donors for Gaza aid. The new appeal noted by Dr. Gargash was
advertized in the local press on January 7 as a nation-wide call for
financial or in-kind donations. The official news release notes that
the "nation-wide relief campaign to raise cash and material
donations" was announced by Deputy Prime Minister (and head of the
Red Crescent) Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, to be launched "on all local
TV and radio stations and newspapers in support of our brothers in
the Gaza Strip." While the Red Crescent will coordinate the
campaign, donations are welcome through a variety of
government-affiliated outlets (to include the Zayed Charitable
Foundation, the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Charitable Foundation,
the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and Dubai Cares). The
Red Crescent also maintains donation booths in most shopping malls.
Mosque sermons this Friday are to highlight the appeal and university
students are being mobilized to assist in collections. The
announcement notes that aid will be channeled to Gaza in coordination
with UNICEF and UNRWA. (The national appeal offers an outlet for
productive public action to assist with a Gaza situation which
otherwise simply generates angst and frustration.)
3. (SBU) Separately, post emphasized the UN appeals in a diplomatic
note January 6, which we will share with select government-affiliated
foundations seeking to make donations to Gaza. The Mohammed bin
Rashid Humanitarian and Charity Establishment in Dubai, for example,
has been asking (even before the current crisis) for reliable
organizations through which to assist Gaza. Additionally, press
reports note that the President's charitable organization, the
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, is donating funds to UNRWA
and UNDP. The Foundation told PolOff that their donations would be
in funds, not goods, but were hesitant to tell us the amount.
4. (U) Finally, the Red Crescent is reportedly cooperating with
UNICEF to supply two medical units (presumably small clinics) to
assist children in Gaza. Local news coverage also notes donations of
ambulances by UAE companies, as well as resident doctors willing to
assist in Gaza.
OLSON