VZCZCXRO3352
OO RUEHCI
DE RUEHKA #1830/01 3261317
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221317Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5615
INFO RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 9362
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 1003
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0295
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 2598
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 8168
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 8252
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1894
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0390
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0573
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0021
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 03 DHAKA 001830 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
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, ROB 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:  USAID/OFDA Cyclone Sidr Situation Report #2:  USAID/DART's 
Initial Humanitarian Assessments on the Impact of Cyclone Sidr in 
Southern Bangladesh 
 
REF: A) DHAKA 1815 
 
¶1. Summary.  Storm surge from Tropical Cyclone Sidr has affected 
more than 1.5 million families in Bangladesh as of November 22. 
Although the Government of Bangladesh's (GOB) early warning and 
preparedness programs have significantly reduced the humanitarian 
impact of the cyclone, severe rainfall and strong winds from the 
storm have caused nearly 3,000 reported deaths and extensive damage 
to homes, property, agricultural fields, and fisheries.  In order to 
provide emergency assistance to Bangladesh, five staff members from 
USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) are 
currently in country as USAID's Disaster Assistance Response Team 
(DART).  In the coming days, five additional USAID/OFDA staff will 
arrive in Bangladesh to support the U.S. Mission team in responding 
to Cyclone Sidr.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS IN CYCLONE-AFFECTED AREAS 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶2. On November 15, 2007, Tropical Cyclone Sidr made landfall in 
southern Bangladesh with winds of 155 miles per hour.  Rainfall and 
flooding resulting from the storm damaged infrastructure and 
destroyed homes, particularly affecting the southern coastal 
districts of Barguna, Bagerhat, Patuakhali, and Pirojpur.  As of 
November 21, the GOB's Disaster Management Bureau and the U.N. World 
Food Program (WFP) reported that the cyclone had killed 2,982 
people, led to the disappearance of 1,724 others, and damaged nearly 
1.2 million homes.  In addition, heavy rains from the storms 
destroyed 1.6 million acres of agricultural lands, negatively 
impacting local food security and livelihoods.  As more information 
becomes available through continuing humanitarian assessments, aid 
agencies believe that actual numbers of people killed and missing 
may be higher than GOB figures. 
 
¶3. Aid organizations report that immediate needs vary from village 
to village.  While food and potable water are the most pressing 
humanitarian needs for cyclone-affected families in coastal 
districts, communities further inland need agricultural recovery and 
livelihoods assistance.  Coupled with the damage from the recent 
floods and high prices of fuel on the international market, economic 
devastation caused by Cyclone Sidr is impacting the livelihoods of 
affected residents particularly in agricultural production and the 
fishing industry. 
 
¶4. Local media sources indicate that Bangladesh military relief 
teams are currently reaching 70 percent of the affected areas. 
However, access remains problematic for aid agencies gathering 
information and distributing emergency relief supplies.  For 
example, in Bagerhat District, where victims of Cyclone Sidr are in 
critical need of safe drinking water, aid agencies have confronted 
difficulties in accessing affected communities.  In addition, 
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) report that several sandbar 
islands in southern Bangladesh continue to experience drinking water 
shortages, with islands off the coast of Patuakhali and Baufal 
reporting acute water shortages.  However, due to ongoing challenges 
in accessing these areas, NGOs lack comprehensive information on 
cyclone-affected communities living in the sandbar islands. 
 
¶5. The USAID/DART team reports that food assistance remains one of 
the most vital humanitarian concerns.  WFP has committed 171 metric 
 
DHAKA 00001830  002 OF 003 
 
 
tons (MT) of high energy biscuits to Save the Children for 
distribution to affected areas.  The U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) 
is also providing high energy biscuits for lactating mothers and 
children under two years of age.  WFP, the lead agency of the U.N. 
food cluster, is currently drawing together information on emergency 
food needs, which will become available in the coming days. 
 
---------------------------------- 
USAID/DART ASSESSMENT AND RESPONSE 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶6. Additional staff from USAID/OFDA will arrive in Dhaka to support 
the U.S. Mission in Bangladesh.  The USAID/DART Team Leader, a 
program officer, food officer, communications officer, and an 
administrative officer will arrive from November 22 to 25. 
 
¶7. On November 21, the USAID/DART Acting Team Leader participated in 
a helicopter assessment of cyclone-affected areas along with the 
heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations.  The 
group observed the distribution of relief activities in Patharghata 
upazila in Barguna District and Sharankhula upazila in Bagerhat 
District and also conducted an aerial assessment of cyclone-affected 
areas of Kalapara, Kuakata, and Sundarban.  The regional advisor 
witnessed widespread destruction due to Cyclone Sidr, including 
decimated agricultural fields, destroyed homes, and trees snapped in 
half.  In the upazila of Patharghata, the Bangladesh military 
reported that the cyclone affected approximately 985,000 people, who 
have experienced significant loss of homes, livestock, and other 
personal property.  Immediate humanitarian needs include food, 
potable water, shelter, and winter clothing.  In Sharankhula, the 
USAID/OFDA advisor reported that the number of beneficiaries present 
at the distribution site exceeded the quantity of relief 
commodities, leading to frantic crowds of people grabbing the 
supplies.  The Bangladesh army curbed these incidents of unrest and 
commotion. 
 
¶8.  On November 21, USAID/OFDA's shelter and livelihoods advisor 
departed Dhaka to travel to Barisal District in southern Bangladesh. 
 The advisor will meet with implementing partners, assess 
humanitarian conditions on the ground, participate in distributions 
of emergency relief commodities with implementing partners, and 
identify key areas for USAID/OFDA support.  The advisor also plans 
to visit Patuakhali during the field assessment. 
 
¶9. On November 22, USAID/OFDA's water, sanitation, and hygiene 
advisor traveled with the Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team (HAST) 
assessment mission to visit cyclone-affected areas of Barisal, 
Galachipa, Kalapara, Barguna, and Patharghata.  The advisor will 
assess water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions, meet with 
implementing partners, and identify gaps in relief activities where 
USAID/OFDA could provide assistance. 
 
¶10. On November 21, the USAID/DART military liaison officer (MLO) 
coordinated with HAST staff and the U.S. Embassy Regional Security 
Officer (RSO) to facilitate movement of joint USAID and HAST 
assessment teams to southern Bangladesh.  On November 22, the 
USAID/Bangladesh Mission Director and USAID/DART MLO met with the 
incoming U.S. military relief task force commander, Brigadier 
General Bailey, and HAST team commander to discuss potential U.S. 
military support for the relief operation and to establish 
coordination mechanisms. 
 
DHAKA 00001830  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
------------------ 
GOB RELIEF EFFORTS 
------------------ 
 
¶10. On November 21, the Bangladesh Air Force sent 18 missions 
carrying 51 MT of relief items to cyclone affected areas.  As of 
November 22, the GOB had also provided 7,070 MT of rice, 27,000 bags 
of emergency food aid, 18,000 blankets, 7,500 tents, 3,300 utensils, 
and 13,000 bundles of corrugated iron sheets to assist affected 
populations.  The GOB also held a Disaster and Emergency Response 
coordination meeting on November 22. 
 
------------------------ 
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
------------------------ 
 
¶11. International donors, U.N. agencies, and financial institutions 
continue to pledge relief for victims of Cyclone Sidr.  On November 
21, the World Bank announced $250 million for relief and 
rehabilitation activities in affected areas. 
 
¶12. According to local media sources, on November 21, two aircraft 
carrying emergency relief commodities from Pakistan landed in Dhaka, 
while two additional aircraft carrying facilities for a 30-bed field 
hospital will arrive on November 22.  An Indian aircraft carrying 
more than 38 tons of relief supplies is also scheduled to arrive on 
November 22. 
 
 
PASI