Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIRUT56
2009-01-14 08:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

LEBANON STARTS DISBURSING ASSISTANCE TO GAZA; LAUNCHES

Tags:  EAID PREL LE GZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6308
RR RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHKUK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHLB #0056 0140806
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140806Z JAN 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3989
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
UNCLAS BEIRUT 000056 

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ELA
TREASURY FOR MNUGENT AND SBLEIWEISS
USDOC FOR 4520/ITA/MAC/ONE
NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/YERGER/MCDERMOTT
STATE PASS USAID FOR BEVER/LAUDATO/SCOTT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL LE GZ
SUBJECT: LEBANON STARTS DISBURSING ASSISTANCE TO GAZA; LAUNCHES
CAMPAIN FOR CASH CONTRIBUTIONS

SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS BEIRUT 000056

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ELA
TREASURY FOR MNUGENT AND SBLEIWEISS
USDOC FOR 4520/ITA/MAC/ONE
NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/YERGER/MCDERMOTT
STATE PASS USAID FOR BEVER/LAUDATO/SCOTT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL LE GZ
SUBJECT: LEBANON STARTS DISBURSING ASSISTANCE TO GAZA; LAUNCHES
CAMPAIN FOR CASH CONTRIBUTIONS

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (SBU) Lebanon has begun disbursing its $1 million assistance
pledge to Gaza, sending a first shipment of medical supplies and
blankets via Jordan on January 3. Subsequent deliveries will depend
on needs submitted by the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. The
Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee also launched a media
campaign asking for cash donations for Gaza. End summary.


2. (SBU) After the Lebanese cabinet's $1 million assistance pledge
to Gaza on December 30, Lebanon sent its first shipment of in-kind
assistance to Gaza by plane via Jordan on January 3. The shipment
consisted of 17 tons of medical supplies and equipment as well as
2,060 blankets, which were delivered to Gaza through the Hashemite
Association and UNRWA, according to Lebanese Health Ministry Advisor
Dr. Rasha Hamra. Ambassador Khalil Mekkawi, head of the
Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, estimated the value of this
first load of assistance to be approximately $200,000.


3. (SBU) Lebanon will send subsequent deliveries to fulfill the
million-dollar pledge based on needs submitted by the Palestinian
Health Ministry in Gaza, Mekkawi and Hamra told us separately. The
Lebanese Health Ministry and the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue
Committee are coordinating efforts to provide the aid. Mekkawi said
he would inquire about the Gaza Health Ministry's additional needs
over the next week. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Health Ministry is
working to secure medical supplies to send to Gaza, Hamra told us.


4. (SBU) In its December 30 meeting, the cabinet also approved the
launch of a campaign to collect contributions for Gaza. After the
new year, the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee launched a
media campaign appealing to the Lebanese to contribute money for
Gaza, and opened an account under its name at the Central Bank of
Lebanon for this purpose, Mekkawi told us. He does not know how
much money has been deposited into this account to date, but said
that as yet no money has been transferred from this account to Gaza.


GRANT