VZCZCXRO4057
PP RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR
DE RUEHRH #1002/01 2160910
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 040910Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1332
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 001002 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP 
DEPT PASS TO USAID/OFDA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI RED CRESCENT ACTIVE IN DARFUR, SOMALIA, 
NIGERIA, MALDIVES 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) The Saudi Red Crescent is operational in several 
countries but has the bulk of its operations within Saudi 
Arabia.  They will be building more than 20 new health 
centers in Darfur, and possibly water distribution stations, 
but are not involved in providing any relief to IDPs in 
Pakistan.  They are looking to increase their staff by 2,000 
over the next year as well as acquire 30 new aircraft.  End 
summary. 
 
SAUDI RED CRESCENT: EXPANDING AND ON THE GROUND 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶2. (SBU) In an August 1 meeting with Econcouns, the acting 
president of the Saudi Red Crescent (SRC), Faiz Ali 
Al-Ahmari, gave an overview of the organization's domestic 
and international operations.  The SRC currently has 5,000 
employees and is looking to expand that to 7,000 over the 
next year.  Unlike the large portion of Saudi assistance that 
is delivered with a checkbook, the SRC combines a variety of 
approaches, ranging from deploying teams of Saudis as part of 
'mobile' hospitals to hiring local staff to carry out their 
programs. 
 
ASSISTANCE TO DARFUR 
-------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Al-Ahmari confirmed recent press reports stating the 
SRC would be channeling roughly $20 million (other sources 
have reported $18 million) in Saudi assistance to Darfur.  He 
said this would come in the form of 21 new health centers 
(some media reports indicated 28).  Al-Ahmari emphasized the 
$20 million donation was just to cover start-up costs, and 
that further contributions would follow to support the 
operation of the health centers.  Al-Ahmari did not indicate 
the projected dollar amount of this additional assistance. 
These centers would be staffed by some Saudi personnel, but 
predominantly by Sudanese.  A recent Sudanese News Agency 
article asserted the SRC would build 21 water "stations" in 
addition to the health centers. 
 
OTHER RECIPIENTS 
---------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) When asked what other countries the SRC is active 
in, Al-Ahmari responded that they are currently building a 
hospital in Kyrgyzstan, operate a number of health clinics in 
the Maldives, and have projects in Nigeria, Somalia, 
Pakistan, and others.  The SRC has just recently closed their 
office in Kosovo and has not to date been involved in 
providing any assistance to internal refugees in Pakistan 
displaced by recent fighting in the northwest.  (Though 
through other channels, Saudi Arabia donated five plane-loads 
of relief supplies to Pakistan.) 
 
DOMESTIC OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Within the Kingdom, the SRC operates several hundred 
ambulances and has indicated an interest to the Embassy's 
Commercial section in acquiring more.  According to 
Al-Ahmari, the SRC is in the process of buying 30 Embraer 
aircraft for domestic use.  He said that during the upcoming 
Hajj they will have 2 aircraft on standby to move patients 
around the country if needed to ease the burden on hospitals 
in and around Mecca. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The SRC used to report to the Ministry of Health. 
However, with the 2006 appointment of HRH Prince Faisal bin 
Abdullah bin Abdelaziz to head the organization, this 
changed.  They now report through Prince Faisal directly to 
the King (Faisal's father).  Al-Ahmari said this gives them 
"more support," identifying their relative freedom to 
allocate their budget as they see fit (90 percent of which 
comes from the government) as an indication of this autonomy. 
 
BIOGRAPHIC NOTE 
--------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Al-Ahmari revealed that he had received his masters 
degree in public health at an unidentified university in New 
Orleans.  He has visited the U.S. twice since his graduation, 
and seems to have a positive impression of the U.S., but has 
 
RIYADH 00001002  002 OF 002 
 
 
not visited since 9/11.  His son is currently visiting San 
Diego for the summer. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Al-Ahmari noted in passing his admiration of the 
President's speech in Cairo. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Local contacts tell us that Prince Faisal is eager 
to raise the profile of the Saudi Red Crescent.  With the 
Prince absent on holiday, Al-Ahmari was unwilling to discuss 
possible areas of cooperation between SRC and OFDA.  We will 
raise this when the Prince returns. 
ERDMAN