SYRIAN FIRST LADY JOINS IN INAUGURATION OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAMASCUS 000706

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR NOBLES; LONDON FOR LORD; DESK PLEASE PASS TO PRM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL SY
SUBJECT: SYRIAN FIRST LADY JOINS IN INAUGURATION OF
USG-FUNDED PROJECTS FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEES

Classified By: CDA Charles Hunter, Reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (C) SUMMARY. CDA participated in the inauguration of the
new Ein al-Tal Palestinian refugee camp near Aleppo on
September 28 and the Salhiyeh/Balad El-Sheikh School in the
Sbeineh Palestinian refugee camp outside Damascus on
September 29. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency
(UNRWA)-sponsored events highlighted USG assistance to the
two projects, which included nearly $1.2 million for the Ein
al-Tal project and $675,000 for the school in Sbeineh. First
Lady Asma al-Asad attended the Ein al-Tal ceremony and proved
to be the event's star attraction. Palestinian refugees
living in the camps expressed gratitude for the assistance
but stressed that more is needed to meet their needs. END
SUMMARY.

SYRIAN FIRST LADY IS STAR ATTRACTION AT PALESTINIAN CAMP


2. (SBU) First Lady Asma al-Asad made a surprise appearance
at the September 28 inauguration of the new Ein al-Tal
Palestinian refugee camp near Aleppo, which was constructed
with USG assistance. Though not mentioned in the printed
materials announcing the event, the First Lady proved the
star attraction at the event. The inauguration was also
attended by the CDA and representatives of other donor
countries including the Swiss Ambassador and the Canadian DCM.


3. (SBU) The First Lady arrived at the refugee camp behind
the wheel of a silver Audi sedan. During the event's main
ceremony, refugee children ran up to the First Lady at
intervals to greet her and make requests. One determined
woman who had already made a plea to the Minister of Social
Affairs and Labor was prevented from speaking to the First
Lady. Camp residents gathered on the periphery of the
ceremony, cheering at every mention of her or her husband's
name (echoing the similarly reactive applause of the invited
guests),and schoolchildren occasionally broke into rhythmic
slogans pledging loyalty to Bashar al-Asad. A small group of
men began chanting that Americans were unwelcome when the CDA
was introduced to give remarks, but the First Lady looked
with annoyance in their direction and aides quickly quieted
them. Before departing the ceremony, she warmly thanked
diplomats for their countries' contributions to meeting
refugee needs and asked UNRWA representatives to keep her
informed of work on the next phase of the project.


4. (U) The construction of the Ein al-Tal camp is Phase One
of the larger Neirab Rehabilitation Project, meant to move
some Palestinian refugees out of the overcrowded Neirab camp
nearby. The new camp boasts new homes for 300 refugee
families. The September 28 event was the culmination of
seven years of work. The total cost of Phase One was about
$35 million. The USG has contributed nearly $3 million to
the Neirab Rehabilitation Project, $1.2 million of which went
towards Phase One. Other donors include the Swiss, Canadians,
Germans, and the United Arab Emirates Red Crescent. Phase
Two will include the renovation and reconstruction of
schools, clinics, and some shelters in the Neirab camp to
improve living conditions for the refugees. In his remarks
at the Ein al-Tal ceremony, the CDA noted that the USG is
UNRWA's largest bilateral donor and has contributed $267
million this year.

USG-FUNDED SCHOOL OPENED IN SBEINEH CAMP


5. (SBU) On September 29, the CDA participated in the
inauguration of the Salhiyeh/Balad El-Sheikh School in the
Sbeineh Palestinian refugee camp, a densely inhabited camp
about 45 minutes south of Damascus. The German ambassador
also attended the joint ceremony marking the opening of the
US-funded Salhiyeh School and the Ma'thar/Saffouriyeh School,
reconstructed with German funds. The new school buildings
will benefit over 3,000 students living in the Sbeineh camp,
which houses over 19,000 Palestinian refugees.


6. (U) While touring the compound, the CDA participated in
media interviews with several outlets in English and Arabic,
including Syrian television and "Al-Quds" television. All of
Syria's major dailies - "Al Watan," "Al Baath," "Tishreen,"
and "Al Thawra" - carried stories based on SANA's press
release that highlighted USG support.



7. (SBU) Director General of the General Administration for
Palestinian Refugees (GAPAR) Ali Mustapha represented the
SARG in the Sbeineh ceremonies, delivering a speech highly
critical of Israel. Praising "our great leader President
Asad," Mustapha called on the United Nations to "intervene
immediately to put an end to the unjust siege, murder,

DAMASCUS 00000706 002 OF 002


destruction, and attempts at starvation and to stop Israeli
aggression in all its forms." Mustapha's remarks received
enthusiastic applause from an audience comprised mostly of
SARG officials, school officials, and students attending the
schools.

REFUGEES EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR ASSISTANCE, STRESS MORE IS
NEEDED


8. (C) Schoolchildren at the Sbeineh schools told Emboffs
privately that they were excited about attending classes in
the newly renovated schools. Some students stated they hoped
to learn English in the schools, and several young boys
practiced their English with the CDA. On the crowded streets
of the Sbeineh camp leading to the schools' entrance,
refugees gathered hoping to catch a glimpse of the SARG
officials and foreign visitors. "I heard the wife of the
president is here," one woman said. (NOTE: AIO was mistaken
upon arrival for the First Lady, and refugee children ran up
to her attempting to greet her and touch her. END NOTE) "We
don't see visitors from America very often," another woman
told Emboff enthusiastically.


9. (C) While the First Lady did not attend, several refugees
told Emboff they were happy that foreign diplomats were
visiting the camp. "They are here to talk about assistance?"
one elderly woman asked. "Good. God willing we will get it.
Look around you, everyone here is poor," she added, pointing
to the rundown storefronts facing the schools. A young man
stressed that more assistance is needed to meet the needs of
the camp's refugees. "People come here and talk about
projects, but we need ten times these projects to improve the
situation here," he said. A policeman listening to the
conversation promptly asked the man to leave and directed
Emboff inside the school's gates.


10. (C) COMMENT. Though the GAPAR head's remarks on the
right of return and Palestinian suffering were lengthier and
more strident at the schools than at the camp inauguration,
neither event veered into strident anti-Americanism. On the
contrary, there was unmistakably a strong desire for
continued US support for improving the refugees' living
conditions. END COMMENT.
HUNTER