This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003960 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR TASK FORCE 1, NEA, EB 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AEMR EAID PREL ENRG KU US KATRINA AID
SUBJECT: TFUS01: KUWAITIS AND OTHERS OFFER OUTPOURING OF 
SUPPORT TO HURRICANE KATRINA VICTIMS 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 3947 
     ¶B. KUWAIT 3951 
 
¶1.  Summary and Comment:  The private sector response in 
Kuwait to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina has 
been overwhelmingly supportive and positive, with dozens of 
offers of support and solidarity streaming in from all 
sectors and segments of society.  The Kuwait Red Crescent 
Society is accepting donations, while other Kuwaiti NGOs have 
published expressions of support and called for coordinated 
aid campaigns.  The Kuwaiti and American business sectors 
have approached the Ambassador seeking ways to help, and 
numerous private individuals have offered either monetary 
assistance or volunteer help as needed.  While some Islamist 
parliament members have been critical of the GOK's offer of 
$500 million in assistance to the U.S., many other Islamists 
have sent messages of support to the Embassy. 
 
¶2.  Comment:  The outpouring of support from Kuwaitis 
demonstrates the historically close ties between our 
countries and the length to which some Kuwaitis think of the 
U.S. as a second home.  Many elements of the mission have 
received dozens of phone calls, faxes, emails, and text 
messages from the public who sympathize with Americans 
affected by this event.  Besides the mix of young and old, 
liberal and conservative, and men and women who have 
contacted the Embassy offering their support and assistance, 
we have seen long-time contacts reaffirm their strong ties to 
the U.S. as well as new contacts who can barely compose an 
email in English yet wish to offer words of support.  Those 
who studied in the U.S., particularly at institutions in and 
around New Orleans, have been the most affected, with many 
volunteering to go to New Orleans and help with the 
remediation efforts.  (For media reaction, please see Ref B.) 
 End Summary and Comment. 
 
An Outpouring of Support 
------------------------ 
 
¶3.  Over the past week we have seen a continuous stream of 
positive support and messages of solidarity from individuals 
and private sector groups in Kuwait in response to the 
devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.  The Embassy has 
received dozens of condolences as well as offers of support 
and solidarity from all segments of society, and they 
continue to arrive daily.  By fax, email, phone calls and in 
personal conversations, offices throughout the mission are 
receiving messages of support and offers of financial and 
material assistance, large and small, from a broad swath of 
Kuwaiti society.  Representatives of civil society, as well 
as the medical, academic, business, and religious communities 
have joined their voices to that of the Government of Kuwait. 
 
¶4.  We also are receiving messages of support and solidarity 
from the significant third-country national community in 
Kuwait, which consists of many people whose families and 
lives were affected by the December 2004 tsunami in Asia and 
know firsthand the suffering of the people affected by 
Hurricane Katrina.  The striking thing about the messages of 
support is how many represent people who have studied, lived, 
or vacationed in the U.S.  Many of them have spent time in 
New Orleans and felt a particular connection to the city and 
people singularly affected by this tragedy.  "I studied 
there," said one caller, "and am ready to provide whatever 
assistance is needed." 
 
Offers of Private Donations Directed to Red Cross and Red 
Crescent 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶5.  In addition to the strong showing of compassion by our 
Kuwaiti contacts, Post has also received numerous inquiries 
from American citizens.  We have directed inquirers to the 
American Red Cross, asking people to make cash donations 
through the RedCross.org website.  For those who wish to do 
something locally, we are referring them to the Kuwait Red 
Crescent Society (KRCS), which is collecting donations on 
behalf of the Red Cross.  The KRCS was originally planning to 
conduct a public campaign, but decided against it when the 
GOK announced the $500 million assistance package for the 
U.S. (Ref A).  Other organizations have expressed interest in 
doing some sort of coordinated campaign. 
 
The Business Sector Steps Up 
---------------------------- 
 
¶6.  The business sector in Kuwait has reached out to the 
Embassy with offers of support.  Leading Kuwaiti members of 
the American Kuwaiti Alliance have been in contact with the 
Ambassador seeking opportunities to involve the Kuwaiti 
private sector.  At the same time, members of the American 
Business Council in Kuwait (ABC-K) also have reached out to 
the Embassy and are planning a coordinated campaign among its 
members.  One of the morning hosts of a local Kuwaiti radio 
station has initiated an effort to "adopt" a family from the 
disaster area, and other creative offers of assistance 
continue to be brought to the attention of American and 
locally-employed staff of the Embassy. 
 
******************************************** 
Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
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LEBARON