Oil-rich Arab states hit for ‘humble’ donations

Saudi Arabia’s ruling royal family, stung by criticism of the kingdom’s relatively low aid commitments to tsunami-stricken nations, has ordered a telethon on state-controlled television today to raise money for the victims.

Phone numbers will be provided on-screen, in what looks like an effort to counter the impression that oil-rich Arab states throughout the Persian Gulf have been parsimonious about this tragedy, despite its terrible effects on the world’s most populous Muslim nation, Indonesia.

One leading Arab editor labeled the response as a “failure” in worldwide Arab diplomacy.

One factor holding back donations appears to be a widespread belief that vacationers were swept away as a form of divine retribution for their un-Islamic or immoral lifestyles. That argument was heard in televised Friday prayers across the Arab world.

“We know that at these resorts, which unfortunately exist in Islamic and other countries in South Asia, and especially at Christmas, fornication and sexual perversion of all kinds are rampant,” one cleric, Sheik Fawzan Al-Fawzan, was quoted as saying. “The fact that it happened at this particular time is a sign from Allah.”

There also is a reluctance in Arab culture to make charitable contributions public, viewing it as a form of boasting.

The Arab News, a publication mainly for expatriates based in the world’s richest desert kingdom, said many Saudi businessmen nevertheless had decided to announce their donations in reaction to “foreign news stories [that] accused Gulf states of being stingy.”

It said one leading industrialist had told the newspaper that he had chartered a plane to take tons of aid, disinfectants and detergents to affected areas. It also reported that schoolchildren had donated their pocket money to help the victims and that three Saudi youths from the city of Jubail are heading to Indonesia to help in the relief effort.

King Fahd announced this week that “in the light of the size of the tragedy and the losses,” the official level of Saudi assistance has been increased to $30 million — tripling what had been announced previously.

Saudi Ambassador Prince Bandar bin Sultan said in Washington that his government will continue to “monitor the situation” and adjust their aid contribution as needed.

“Due to the extent of the disaster, we need to consider the long-term relief for the survivors of this terrible tragedy, and we continue to monitor the situation to enable the best support possible,” he said.

Efforts to reach ambassadors of other Islamic countries in Washington yesterday were not successful.

The boost in Saudi aid, which remains less than 5 percent of the $665 million German commitment, came after a controversial editorial in Kuwait’s Al Qabas newspaper accusing Gulf Arab leaders and particularly Kuwaitis of failing to live up to their obligations.

The paper said the low level of aid would add to the impression that Gulf Arabs were willing to use Asians — who as imported workers easily outnumber the native population — as menial employees within their oil-rich states, but were not able to view the Muslims among them as Islamic equals.

The bulk of the nannies, drivers, menial laborers and other servants who keep most households running in Kuwait come from Southeast Asia, the paper pointed out. It said “some Kuwaitis” felt this imposed an obligation to be seen to be generous.

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