Cablegate: Uae Assistance to Iraq From 2003-2006

VZCZCXRO9662
RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHAD #0389 0671217
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081217Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8480
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0309

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000389

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/I AND NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PHUM ECON PREL IZ AE
SUBJECT: UAE ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ FROM 2003-2006

REF: A. 06 ABU DHABI 04474
B. ABU DHABI 101

1. (SBU) On March 7, 2007 Yousef Al Otaiba International Affairs
Director for the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court provided Ambassador
with a matrix of UAE assistance to Iraq from 2003-2006.

2. (SBU) According to the matrix, the UAE Armed Forces provided
129,857,752 dhs ($35,287,433) from 2003-2005 and 19,692,965 dhs
($5,351,350) in 2006 for a total donation of 149,550,718 dhs
($40,638,782). An additional $1,600,000 donation, not included in
the 2003-2006 assistance figures, was also provided by the UAE Armed
Forces. Although the matrix did not provide a breakdown of the type
of donations provided, post believes they are likely to be in-kind
donations and training. The matrix also contains a note that not all
assistance by the UAE armed forces is included in the numbers
provided.

3. (SBU) The UAE Red Crescent Society provided 116,292,474 dhs
($31,601,216) in 2003, 6,870,242 dhs ($1,866,914) in 2004, 13,023,289
dhs ($3,538,937) in 2005 and 11,347,332 dhs ($3,083,514) in 2006 for
a total of 147,533,337 dhs ($40,090,580) of cash and in-kind
assistance to Iraq from 2003-2006. In a December 2006 meeting with
the Red Crescent, officials said the charity provided 143,152,000 dhs
(38.9 million USD) in assistance to Iraq from 2002-2006. Most of the
assistance was in-kind donations of food, blankets, clothing, and
medical treatment. (Refs A and B). (Note. The assistance numbers
provided by Al Otaiba for the Red Crescent's donations from 2003-2006
are higher than the figures provided earlier by the Red Crescent
which also include 2002. End note.)

4. (SBU) The Finance Department of Abu Dhabi did not provide any
assistance to Iraq in 2003-2004, but provided in-kind assistance of
4,407,600 dhs ($1,197,717) in 2005 and 30,118,600 dhs ($8,814,402) of
in-kind assistance in 2006 for a total of 34,526,200 dhs ($9,382,120)
in 2005-2006.

5. (SBU) Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation allocated
500,000 dhs ($136,240) to Iraq in 2003. Although this money has not
yet been disbursed, it is still available for disbursement. The
Foundation did not provide any assistance in 2004-2006. Post will
follow up with the Foundation.

SISON

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