Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ABUDHABI80
2010-01-19 14:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

TFHA01: UAE'S HAITI AID EFFORTS

Tags:  EAID PREL ECON PGOV PREF HA AE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0015
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAD #0080 0192235
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191401Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0162
INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHC/USAID WASHDC 0004
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000080 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP
ALSO FOR STACY D. WILLIAMS AND MELISSA
ROSSER ON HAITI TASKFORCE ONE
USAID FOR MAURA O'NEILL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL ECON PGOV PREF HA AE
SUBJECT: TFHA01: UAE'S HAITI AID EFFORTS

REF: STATE 4854; STATE 4909; STATE 4807

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000080

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP
ALSO FOR STACY D. WILLIAMS AND MELISSA
ROSSER ON HAITI TASKFORCE ONE
USAID FOR MAURA O'NEILL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL ECON PGOV PREF HA AE
SUBJECT: TFHA01: UAE'S HAITI AID EFFORTS

REF: STATE 4854; STATE 4909; STATE 4807


1. (SBU) On January 17, the Ambassador met with Shaykh Hamdan bin
Zayed, Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Society, the primary UAE
aid organization that provides humanitarian assistance abroad to
discuss UAE support for Haiti. Shaykh Hamdan (the half-brother of
UAE President Shaykh Khalifa) said the UAE leadership was greatly
concerned by the situation in Haiti, applauded US effort in Haiti.
The Ambassador provided reftel updates on US efforts. Hamdan said
that the UAE would welcome coordination of UAE efforts with the
USG, and would welcome any suggestions on areas to focus on in its
own efforts.




2. (SBU) The UAE has established a Higher Committee for Haiti,
comprising the four major humanitarian/relief organizations in the
UAE: the Shaykh Zayed Foundation, the Shaykh Khalifa Foundation,
the Shaykh Mohammed bin Rashid Foundation and the UAE Red Crescent
Society. After initial shipment of 50 tons of relief supplies, the
UAE has decided to mount a cross border relief operation from the
Dominican Republic. (Comment: Although Shaykh Hamdan did not say
so, this decision may have been taken in part because of the
difficulty of the UAE getting aircraft into Port-au-Prince airport.
End Comment.) The plan is for the UAE to provide funding for
purchase of commodities in the DR that will then be shipped
overland to Haiti. Hamdan has met with the Foreign Minister of the
Dominican Republic who happened to visit the UAE last week (Note:
The UAE has within the past year established relations with the DR.
End Note.)




3. (SBU) Separately on January 17, Mohammed bin Rashid Foundation
for Humanitarian and Charitable Works (MBRHCW) Director Saleh al
Mazouei told Treasury Attach???? that MBRHCW wants to provide
immediate aid (nfi) to Haiti and asked for assistance to quickly
obtain visas to travel to the U.S. Post is following up to
facilitate.




4. (SBU) On January 19, Martin Barber, Senior Advisor for the UAE's
Office of Foreign Aid Coordination (OFAC),said OFAC is tracking
all UAE assistance for Haiti. He provided EconOff with the
following summary of UAE efforts:



- The Khalifa Foundation, which has already dispatched 50 tons of
food, medical and other supplies, is sending a humanitarian team on
Jan. 19 or 20 to the Dominican Republic to identify potential
partners (e.g. WFP, UNICEF) for further assistance.



- MBRHCW plans to provide 600-900,000 liters of water and other
medical assistance.



- A logistics team from Dubai Ports Authority plans to travel to
the DR on Jan. 20 to identify port-related assistance needed.



- OFAC is providing the UN/WFP logistics cluster and USAID/OFDA
with updates on UAE efforts.




5. (SBU) On January 19, the Ambassador discussed with Clara
Martinez Thedy de Safa, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the
UAE, UAE plans to route assistance through the DR and offered USG
assistance as needed.




6. (SBU) Post has shared reftel instructions on aid coordination
efforts with UAEG authorities.
OLSON