VZCZCXRO9079
OO RUEHCI
DE RUEHKA #1797/01 3211438
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 171438Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5554
INFO RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU IMMEDIATE 9333
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA IMMEDIATE 0974
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0264
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 2578
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 8142
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 8227
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1871
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0367
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0550
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 DHAKA 001797 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
PLEASE PASS TO DNI 
DEPT FOR SES-O 
DEPT FOR SCA/PB, SCA/EX 
DCHA/OFDA FOR ROBERT THAYER 
AID/W FOR AA MARK WARD AND ANE ANNE DIX 
DCHA/FFP FOR MATTHEW NIMS AND PAUL NOVICK 
ROME FOR FODAG 
BANGKOK FOR RDM/A TOM DOLAN, BOB BARTON 
KATHMANDU FOR USAID OFDA BILL BERGER AND SUE MCINTYRE 
TREASURY FOR ELIZABETH WEISS AND SUSAN CHUN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PREL ASEC CASC AMGT SOCI ECON PINR EAGR SENV
BG 
SUBJECT:  BANGLADESH CYCLONE SIDR SITREP FOR NOVEMBER 17 
 
REF: A) STATE 157623 B) DHAKA 1796 C) DHAKA-WASHINGTON EMAIL SITREPS 
OF NOVEMBER 15-16, 2007 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Bangladesh is slowly beginning to assess the 
damage caused by Cyclone Sidr.  Unofficial estimates of the number 
of deaths reached 2,000 by late afternoon November 17.  As many as a 
million homes and an estimated 250,000 acres of crops may have been 
damaged or destroyed.  Loss of power has been a major problem 
throughout the country, but electricity in Dhaka largely has been 
restored.  An early report of damage to rural electrical networks 
estimates that more than USD 20 million will be required to restore 
power outside main cities.  Major disruptions to transportation and 
communications networks have hindered the ability to assess damage. 
The GOB is trying to assess and prioritize needs and respond to the 
many offers of assistance that are pouring in.  At the request of 
Bangladesh's Chief Adviser, the Embassy is preparing a list of 
possible areas in which the USG could provide assistance.  The 
Embassy has not received any requests for assistance from American 
citizens in Bangladesh.  END SUMMARY. 
 
LOSS OF LIFE AND LIVELIHOOD 
 
¶2. (U) As of late afternoon local time November 17, the official 
death toll from Cyclone Sidr stood at 936, though unofficial reports 
indicated the toll was expected to climb past 2,000.  According to 
the Bangladesh Ministry of Food and Disaster Management (MFDM), it 
will take another 2-3 days to get a better estimate of the extent of 
damage and number of casualties.  While the loss of life appears to 
have been mitigated in part by strengthened disaster preparation 
(NOTE:  Cyclones in Bangladesh with a similar strength to Sidr left 
500,000 and 100,000 dead in 1970 and 1991, respectively.  END 
NOTE.), homes and livelihoods have been devastated.  Districts in 
the southwest coastal region of Bangladesh were the hardest hit. 
Preliminary estimates indicate that as many as one million homes may 
have been destroyed and that 250,000 acres of land and crops have 
been damaged.  There was also a significant loss of livestock, 
including fish and seafood, a major export for Bangladesh.  As many 
as 3 million people were evacuated in advance of the cyclone, 
670,000 of whom were accommodated in special cyclone shelters.  Many 
people have now departed temporary shelters for their homes; 
approximately 240,000 are reported to remain in the cyclone 
shelters. 
 
LOSS OF POWER 
 
¶3. (SBU) Large sections of the country are without power.  As the 
cyclone reached Bangladesh on November 15, the national power grid 
was brought down as a precaution.  Getting the grid back online has 
been a major challenge.  Dhaka, the capital city, was only able to 
get power restored city-wide late on November 16.  Even then, 
anecdotal reports indicate that power remains an issue in Dhaka. 
(NOTE:  Power outages in the diplomatic enclave have been minimal, 
and Embassy residences and offices have had no problems running on 
generator power when needed.  END NOTE.)  A lack of power at Zia 
International Airport in Dhaka meant that a helicopter returning 
from a cyclone assessment late on November 16 had to land without 
the aid of runway lights.  Much of coastal Bangladesh remains 
without power.  Rural electrification boards, which have received 
large-scale USG assistance in Bangladesh's 36-year history, report 
that more than USD 20 million will be required to restore power to 
these areas. 
 
DHAKA 00001797  002 OF 004 
 
 
 
GOB RESPONSE 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Significant damage to transportation and communication 
networks has slowed damage assessment by authorities and 
non-governmental organizations (NGOs).  Chief Adviser Fakhruddin 
Ahmed and Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U. Ahmed traveled by 
helicopter November 16 to visit cyclone-affected areas.  There are 
reports that their helicopter was mobbed by cyclone victims seeking 
relief supplies at one stop during the visit.  The Bangladesh 
military is on the front lines of the current relief efforts. 
Emergency supplies are being distributed by air and land, albeit in 
a limited fashion.  The Government of Bangladesh (GOB) has allocated 
95 million taka (about USD 1,376,811) for the 15 affected districts 
for use for rescue operations and 3,000 metric tons of rice for 
relief operations. 
 
¶5.  (U) The GOB is distributing dry food to most cyclone-affected 
districts and by helicopter to remote areas.  By noon November 17, 
the GOB reported it had completed 12 airlifts of dry food. 
According to MFDM sources, there is an urgent need for ready-to-eat 
dry food.   Ministry sources offered helicopter services to USAID 
implementing partners to facilitate distribution of relief 
assistance to inaccessible areas.  Medical teams are providing 
medical care to the injured in the shelters. In total, 732 medical 
teams (including military) are working in the affected teams. 
 
USG RESPONSE 
 
¶6.  (SBU) In a November 17 phone conversation with the Charg 
d'Affaires a.i., General Moeen welcomed her offer of USG aid, in 
particular her suggestion that a U.S. Army medical team already 
in-country stand by to provide assistance.  Moeen said priority 
needs include food, drinking water, shelter materials, blankets, 
clothing and medicine.  The Chief Adviser noted that food and water 
were needed most. 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  In response to our query about what USG assistance could 
be useful, on November 17 the Chief Adviser requested the CDA a.i. 
supply him with a notional list of the kinds of assistance we could 
provide.  The Embassy is preparing this list, which will be based on 
input from USAID and DoD elements at post, and coordinated with 
OFDA.  The Regional Adviser for the Office of Foreign Disaster 
Assistance (OFDA) is expected to arrive in Dhaka late November 17. 
She will visit the cyclone-hit region and, in conjunction with the 
country team, pinpoint areas for USG assistance.  USAID Dhaka is 
already beginning to process the USD 100,000 in disaster assistance 
granted by OFDA. (Ref A) 
 
¶8.  (U) USAID Implementing Partners Save the Children (Save) and 
CARE are working in nine affected districts, Barisal, Patuakhali, 
Bhola, Perozpur, Jhalokhati, Borguna, Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat. 
 Save is deploying two water treatment units to Bhola and Patuakhali 
districts that can process 1,500 liters of water per hour.  It is 
planning to distribute emergency survival packages to 2,500 families 
and is also working with the World Food Program to distribute high 
energy biscuits to 88,000 families.  Save is taking the lead 
coordination role for all NGOs operating in the Barisal region. 
 
¶9.  (U) CARE is working in close coordination with the GOB and NGOs 
in the Khulna region.  On November 18, it will begin to distribute 
 
DHAKA 00001797  003 OF 004 
 
 
emergency survival packets to 13,000 families in remote areas of 
Bagerhat district.  These packets include receive plastic sheeting, 
drinking water and other basic supplies.  Five thousand of these 
13,000 families will also receive dry food rations.  CARE will 
deploy two water treatment units as well. 
 
OTHER DONORS 
 
¶10.  (U) NGOs and diplomatic missions in Bangladesh are also making 
assessments and offering assistance.  Foreign Adviser Iftekhar 
Chowdhury announced he expects the United Nations Development 
Program (UNDP) to provide close to USD 6 million in cyclone aid. 
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 
has appealed for USD 3.5 million to assist Bangladesh.  The European 
Union has pledged 1.5 million Euros.  Canada has indicated it will 
donate at least 100,000 dollars.  The United Nations has provided 
nutritional biscuits to feed 400,000 people for three days.  BRAC, 
one of the largest NGOs in Bangladesh, has earmarked USD 1 million 
for cyclone relief and has appealed for contribution of at least USD 
1 million more. 
 
¶11. (U) The World Food Program (WFP) has seven assessment teams in 
affected areas.  As part of its immediate response, WFP made 
available 98 metric tons of high energy biscuits, 18.75 metric tons 
of which have already been distributed to 25,000 families in two 
districts.   Saudi Arabia has provided 7,000 tents.  A meeting of 
the donor local consultative sub-group on Disaster Emergency 
Response has been scheduled for November 18. 
 
PUBLIC OUTREACH 
 
¶12.  (U) USG press statements offering condolences and assistance 
were quoted in major Bangla-language newspapers November 17.  Local 
and international media are starting to make inquiries to the 
Embassy about USG assistance, including reports that U.S. Navy ships 
are being dispatched to aid in relief efforts.  We will continue to 
coordinate our public diplomacy efforts with Washington. 
 
EMBASSY OPERATIONS 
 
¶13.  (SBU) Cyclone Sidr has had a minimal impact on Embassy 
operations.  Backup generators at Mission offices and residences 
were in use while power was out in Dhaka, and the generators 
continue to be used as power fluctuates, which is occurring a 
somewhat higher rate than normal.  Internet and television service, 
which had been disrupted, is largely restored.  The Consular section 
has been in communication with American citizens throughout the 
country, but has not received any requests for assistance. 
 
COMMENT 
 
¶14.  (SBU) Cyclone Sidr has exacted a heavier toll on livelihood 
than on life.  While it is fortunate that loss of life appears to be 
less than previous cyclones in Bangladesh, millions of survivors 
face dire circumstances.  In the short term, cyclone victims will 
need food, water and shelter.  In the long term, victims who already 
must struggle to support themselves face even greater economic 
hardship.  The GOB appears to have responded well thus far to the 
crisis.  It was active early to spread warnings and aid in 
evacuation.  It is moving as quickly as possible to respond.  The 
level of relief the GOB can provide is limited because its resources 
 
DHAKA 00001797  004 OF 004 
 
 
are limited.  Donors will need to be mindful of placing additional 
strain on an already over-taxed government infrastructure. 
 
PASI