VZCZCXRO4449
PP RUEHCI
DE RUEHKA #1833/01 3281548
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241548Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5623
INFO RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 9367
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0395
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 8257
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 1008
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0576
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0026
RUEKDIA/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001833 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DCHA/OFDA FOR ROBERT THAYER 
AID/W FOR AA MARK WARD AND ANE ANNE DIX 
DEPT PASS TO SCA/EX 
DEPT PASS TO SCA/PB 
DCHA/FPP 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 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID SOCI PNR PREL BG
SUBJECT: IMPRESSIONS FOLLOWING OVERFLIGHT OF SIDR AFFECTED AREAS 
 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  DATT, Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) Chief, 
CONOff and six members of III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF)'s 
Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team (HAST), accompanied by a 
Bangladesh military officer, November 20 flew in a host nation 
military helicopter to survey damage from Cyclone SIDR and evaluate 
possible U.S. military Humanitarian Response/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) 
efforts.  Initial impressions were that major infrastructure, like 
bridges and concrete buildings, largely survived even in hard-hit 
areas. However, other infrastructure, including road embankments and 
power lines, was severely affected.  Large swaths of cropland were 
visibly damaged and less robust dwellings, such as those constructed 
of corrugated iron sheeting, sustained substantial destruction. 
Bangladeshi military and Coast Guard vessels were visible in several 
locations distributing aid supplies.  END SUMMARY. 
 
INITIAL LEG - DHAKA TO MONGLA 
 
¶2.  CONOff, who is working as pol-mil liaison during cyclone relief 
efforts, had the opportunity to join a November 20 military 
assessment of areas affected by Cyclone Sidr.  The flight departed 
Dhaka and flew south-southwest towards the port at Mongla, the 
second largest port in Bangladesh, in Khulna division.  The port 
facility in Mongla was not visibly damaged from our altitude of 
1,000 ft.  Multiple ships, including two Bangladeshi Navy or Coast 
Guard vessels, were at the docks, and others were navigating the 
waterways in and out of the port.  Cell phones carried by the ODC 
Chief and CONOff showed coverage here, as they did, with a few 
exceptions, largely throughout the flight. 
 
SECOND LEG - MONGLA TO SARAN K@OLA 
 
¶3.  The flight continued south from Mongla into the Sundarbans 
mangrove forest.  Largely uninhabited, the area began to display 
damage to large trees.  Especially noticeable in this and other 
areas was that the tops of the trees were beginning to turn brown, 
we suspect due to leaves dying due to broken branches.  Waterways, 
however, appeared free of large debris.  Turning eastwards, towards 
Saran Khola, we saw, for the first time, major damage at several 
locations, including completely demolished corrugated iron 
structures, boats washed ashore, and widespread uprooting of large 
trees.  Major roads appeared to be passable, however, as light 
traffic was seen at several points, and robust structures such as 
poured concrete buildings were still standing, as were cell phone 
towers and bridges. 
 
THIRD LEG - SARAN KHOLA TO BARGUNA 
 
¶4.  This leg took us east, roughly parallel to Bangladesh's southern 
shore, from areas of mangrove forest to farmland, where we observed 
large swaths of crops that appeared flattened.  This is consistent 
with the November 19 reports from Bangladesh Armed Forces Division 
(AFD) that these areas have completely lost the current rice crop, 
which was due to be harvested towards the end of November.  (NOTE: 
AFD predictions were that the next crop will not be for at least 
four months. END NOTE.)  Similar to Saran Khola, major 
infrastructure points seemed to have survived, but individual 
dwellings had clearly sustained damage ranging frm minor to total. 
In this area, a Bangladeshi Coast Guard vessel was at anchor in the 
river distributing aid to a crowd assembled on shore using small, 
local boats.  Whenever the helicopter circled a particular area, a 
crowd began to form at any nearby likely landing sit.  Two 
different Bangladesh military Landing Craft- Utility (LCU) were 
traveling the waterways loaded with white bags of relief goods. 
 
FOURTH LEG - BARGUNA TO PATUAKHALI 
 
¶5.  Continuing eastward, as with other areas, we observed that cell 
phone towers remained standing and cell phones showed service, even 
when nearby houses were destroyed.  The flight briefly paraleled a 
well-maintained two-lane road that had light traffic on it at 1030 
a.m.  Visible damage became less severe along this leg, with two 
story corrugated iron structures showing no apparent damage from our 
altitude of 500 feet in some areas on this leg.  We also observed 
local residents herding cattle out in the open for the first time. 
 
DHAKA 00001833  002 OF 002 
 
 
In some locations, river cargo boats were seen beached, presumably 
by the storm.  Relief efforts were also evident, with large crowds 
receiving the same white bags as seen previously on the LCUs.  At 
Patuakhali, as we had since approaching Barguna, we continued to 
observe severe damage to weaker structures as well as light traffic 
traveling along roads and bridges; cell phones also still showed 
service.  The damage to crops continued the same as on the other 
legs since we first started seeing farmland. 
 
FIFTH LEG - PATUAKHALI TO BARISAL 
 
¶6.  Proceeding north from Patuakhali to Barisal, we arrived at the 
principal airport in Bangladesh's central southern area at 
approximately 11:00 a.m.  With a 6,000 ft runway, the Barisal 
Airport had already seen 49 Bangladeshi military MI-17 helicopter 
sorties deliver 123 tons of relief since the storm hit; Bangladeshi 
Air Force C-130 aircraft have also successfully used that runway to 
deliver relief materials.  The majority of the relief goods had been 
distributed, but we were able to see the two different types of 
relief bags stockpiled at the Barisal airport for delivery.  One was 
a 25 lb bag containing 10 kg rice, 2 liters of cooking oil, lentils 
(a common staple food item), soap, and cookies.  Bangladeshi 
officers from the 55th Division explained this was designed to feed 
a family for 7 days.  The other type of relief bag was a larger, 10 
lb bag with cooking utensils, mosquito netting, clothing, and toilet 
articles; this kit is intended to be given once, one to a family. 
These bags were donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 
pre-positioned in warehouses in Dhaka, and are clearly stamped with 
a Saudi Arabian logo. Lt Col Ali, the apparent area commander at 
Barisal Airport expressed frustration at the lack of media coverage 
on the positive response from the Bangladeshi military.  At the same 
time, Lt Col Ali expressed a hope for the U.S. military to make a 
contribution to the relief effort. 
 
COMMENT 
 
¶7.  Gross infrastructure largely survived Cyclone Sidr, and loss of 
life due to direct storm effects is likely close to an order of 
magnitude lower than previous, similar storms.  Bangladesh now must 
face, possibly for the first time, a disaster of this magnitude 
combined with survivors in these numbers.  The immediate storm has 
passed, but the task of re-establishing basic hygiene, potable water 
production/distribution, shelter, and agriculture is just beginning. 
 END COMMENT. 
 
PASI