FLAGSHIP UAE CHARITIES FOCUSED ON AID, NOT IDEOLOGY

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 000277


NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2024
TAGS: AE ECON KTFN PTER
SUBJECT: FLAGSHIP UAE CHARITIES FOCUSED ON AID, NOT IDEOLOGY

Classified By: Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. On 25-26 February, U.S. Embassy and Treasury
officials met with senior leadership from the Mohammed bin
Rashid Establishment for Charitable and Humanitarian Works
(MBRHC) and the UAE Red Crescent Society (UAERC). Both
UAE-based NGOs affirmed their commitment to deliver aid to
the war-torn Gaza Strip, but without providing benefit to, or
working through, Hamas. USG officials expressed support for
Gaza aid efforts, and highlighted the involvement of
Secretary Clinton in the March 2 Sharm el Sheikh donors
conference. End Summary.

MBRHC LOOKS FOR GAZA AID CHANNELS
--------------


2. (C) MBRHC Director Saleh al Mazroei detailed his
organization's aid efforts. Roughly 85% of MBRHC aid funds
are directed within the UAE, helping nationals, foreigners
and bedouins with medical care, schooling, food, rent, etc.
The organization has a computer driven process that
determines who is eligible for aid, and then tracks the
disbursement thereof. MBRHC does not provide cash to aid
recipients, instead using checks and direct bank transfers to
directly pay hospitals, schools, landlords, etc.


3. (C) MBRHC does not maintain international offices, so
overseas aid is normally delivered by partnering up with
local and international NGOs. To vet overseas NGOs as
potential implementation partners, MBRHC checks with Dubai
security services, runs Internet searches and checks various
blacklists, including UN, OFAC and even Israeli government
lists. MBRHC checks with local embassies of the host country
NGO and UAE embassies in the country where the aid is to be
delivered. They ask for legal establishment records and bank
authorization documents. Even with all these steps, MBRHC
lamented that it is difficult to ensure 100% avoidance of
contact with organizations that can later sully MBRHC's
reputation.


4. (C) For example, in 2000-2001 MBRHC partnered with
UK-based Union of Good to deliver school supplies to children
in Gaza. Several years later, the Union of Good was
blacklisted by U.S. and Israeli authorities as a Hamas
umbrella organization. Although MBRHC ended cooperation with
Union of Good in 2001, the Israeli government blacklisted
MBRHC in 2008, identifying it as a partner of the banned
Hamas front. As a result of the Israeli blacklisting of
MBRHC, Israel-based NGOs that had partnered with MBRHC to
deliver aid into Gaza are now banned from working with the
UAE charity. Saleh fears that U.S. and European NGOs may also
avoid contact with his organization. Saleh requested USG
assistance in removing its name from the Israeli blacklists.


5. (S//NF) Saleh shared that under the direction of UAE
authorities and security services, MBRHC does not work with
Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated NGOs, to include the UAE-based
Human Appeal International (HAI). He said UAE security
services can identify Muslim Brotherhood fronts in the Gulf,
but have a more difficult time with U.S. and European NGOs.
He asked specifically about the Michigan-based Life for
Relief and Development (LRD) -- which recently opened an
office in Dubai -- and the Turkish Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH).
Saleh welcomed USG guidance on partnering issues and asked
USG to share relevant information with him directly and
through UAE security services.

UAE RED CRESCENT PARTNERS WITH UN
--------------


6. (C) UAERC Deputy Secretary General for Relief & Project
Affairs Saleem Hamad al Junaibi confirmed that his
organization seeks to deliver aid in Gaza without benefiting
Hamas by partnering with well established international
agencies. In the Palestinian territories, the UAERC works
with UNDP, UNICEF, UNRWA, the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC),and the Palestine Red Crescent Society
(PRCS). The UAERC is not currently working with the Islamic
Development Bank. Saleem explained that UAERC works through
these agencies to avoid giving money to any political faction
-- Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. The UAERC's mission is
to deliver aid to the needy, not support political parties.


7. (C) Saleem stated that UAERC works with the international
organizations listed above to identify projects that require
funding. Projects suitable for UAERC support are jointly
agreed upon by UAERC and the partner agency. UAERC relies on
the international agencies on the ground to vet projects and
implementation issues. Regarding Gaza's current needs, Saleem
stated that the UAERC is working with UNRWA to channel aid
through Egypt and Jordan. The UAERC often receives
applications for assistance through host country embassies
present in the UAE.


8. (C) Speaking briefly on Lebanon, Saleem stated that the
UAERC works with UNRWA to provide aid for refugee camps. The
UAERC maintains a small office in Lebanon that coordinates
with the UAE Embassy in Lebanon. When local NGOs apply for
aid, the UAERC relies on vetting by the UAE Embassy.


OLSON