Cablegate: Egypt Planning Humanitarian Response for Haiti
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHEG #0113 0211443
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211443Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0017
INFO RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0001
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
UNCLAS CAIRO 000113
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE, USAID/W FOR DCHA/OFD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV IRC HA EG
SUBJECT: Egypt planning humanitarian response for Haiti
REF: STATE 004909; STATE 4208
1. Poloff delivered points in reftel a to MFA Deputy Assistant Minister for American Affairs Amin Malaeka on Jan 20, emphasizing the need for contributions to be registered with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA). Malaeka took the points, and noted the GOE would most likely send medicine and medical supplies, but said cash assistance was unlikely.
2. On Jan 21 MFA Cabinet Advisor for Latin American Affairs Walid Haggag advised poloff that the Egyptians were planning to convene an interagency coordination group to determine Egypt's humanitarian response to the earthquake in Haiti. The interagency would include the MFA, the Prime Minister's office, the Red Crescent, and the Ministry of Social Solidarity. Haggag said the GOE planned to send LE 500,000 in medicine and medical supplies, but needed to finalize details, including how to move the supplies.
3.Haggag noted there are 28 Egyptian policemen in Haiti serving in the U.N.'s Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH); they suffered no casualties from the earthquake. He said the GOE had not decided whether or not to increase the Egyptian complement of police, and/or send soldiers, following the recent passage of UNSCR 1908. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED SCOBEY