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Cablegate: Contributions for Iraq Refugees and Idps: Dutch

Published: Wed 24 Oct 2007 10:16 AM
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PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHTC #1930/01 2971016
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241016Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0594
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0112
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2712
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 6671
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RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1733
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 4997
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RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1380
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 4700
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 001930
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE (TSMITH), PRM/ANE (NHASTINGS)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IZ PHUM PREF NL
SUBJECT: CONTRIBUTIONS FOR IRAQ REFUGEES AND IDPS: DUTCH
RESPONSE
REF: STATE 138123
THE HAGUE 00001930 001.2 OF 002
THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE HANDLE
ACCORDINGLY.
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. The Dutch are monitoring the Iraqi
refugee situation closely but plan no additional assistance
in the short term. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says this
could change if the UNHCR shows results in the region and
Iraq does more to help its own citizens. Current Dutch
contributions for the region total USD 17.2 million for 2006
and 2007. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) Econoff shared on October 15 reftel points
regarding humanitarian assistance for Iraqi refugees and IDPs
to Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials Peter Flik,
Head of the Humanitarian Aid Division, and Petra Hofs, Policy
Advisor in the same division. In a subsequent discussion
October 23, Hofs said the GONL monitored the situation
closely and was aware of the challenges posed by IDPs and
Iraqi refugees in the region. Hofs noted that the GONL was
already contributing in several ways, and therefore planned
no additional pledges in short term. Over the 2006-2007
period, she explained, the GONL contributed 3.7 million euros
(USD 5.3 million) to the following organizations:
-- The International Organization for Migration, providing 1
million euros (USD 1.4 million) in 2006 for Iraqi IDPs.
-- The Netherlands Red Cross, providing 700,000 euros (USD
1.0 million) in 2006 for medical supplies and hospitals in
Iraq.
-- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),
providing 1 million euros (USD 1.4 million) in 2007 for
operations in Iraq.
-- The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), providing 1
million euros (USD 1.4 million) in 2007 for operations in
Iraq.
3. (SBU) According to Hofs, the GONL also assisted Iraqi
refugees indirectly by supporting the following UN agencies
active in the region:
-- The UN Central Emergency Response fund, providing 40
million euros (USD 57.1 million) annually of which USD 9.7
million was allocated to the region over 2006-2007.
-- The UN Children's Fund, providing 26 million euros (USD
37.1 million) to the Education in Emergency program in 2006.
Of this amount, USD 2.2 million was allocated to improve the
education sector in Iraq.
4. (SBU) The GONL also makes large unearmarked
contributions to the UNHCR and ICRC annually, Hofs said,
adding that these contributions could be used for needs such
as those in Iraq. For 2007, the GONL contributed 40.9
million euros (USD 58.3 million) to the UNHCR and 25 million
euros (USD 35.7 million) to the ICRC.
5. (SBU) Hofs said the Dutch would consider additional
contributions for Iraqi refugees under two conditions.
First, if the UNHCR achieved substantial results, since it
was operating under "difficult" conditions in the region; and
THE HAGUE 00001930 002.2 OF 002
second, if Iraq did more to support its own citizens. The
Dutch, she added, supported U.S. efforts to persuade Iraq to
fulfill its USD 25 million pledge for refugee assistance made
at the UNHCR Geneva Conference in April.
Gallagher
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