VZCZCXRO8788
OO RUEHCI
DE RUEHKA #1870/01 3331204
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 291204Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5687
INFO RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 9396
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 1034
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0324
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 2614
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 8190
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 8286
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1919
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0415
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0596
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0046
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 02 DHAKA 001870 
 
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 #7:  USAID/DART 
Assessment of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Conditions in Dublar 
Char, Khulna Division 
 
 
¶1. Summary.  In conjunction with USAID/Bangladesh and the Government 
of Bangladesh's (GOB) Department of Public Health Engineering 
(DPHE), USAID's Disaster Response Team (USAID/DART) assessed water, 
sanitation, and hygiene conditions in Dublar Char, Khulna Division, 
which the Bangladesh military identified as critically water 
insecure.  The USAID/DART reported that the Bangladesh navy has 
successfully met the immediate water needs of cyclone-affected 
populations in Dublar Char.  Additionally, the USAID/DART did not 
observe prevalent gaps in other humanitarian sectors, including 
food, shelter, health, and livelihoods.  Humanitarian indicators and 
conditions are at pre-cyclone levels.  The USAID/DART recommends 
medium to long-term interventions to improve water, sanitation, and 
hygiene conditions in Dublar Char.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
IMPACT OF CYCLONE SIDR ON DUBLAR CHAR, KHULNA DIVISION 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶2.  The Bangladesh military identified Dublar Char, Shoron Khola, 
Galachipa, Kalapara, and Barguna as the five most water insecure 
areas due to the impact of Cyclone Sidr.  On November 28, the 
USAID/DART's water, sanitation, and hygiene advisor and information 
officer, together with USAID/Bangladesh and DPHE, traveled to Dublar 
Char to evaluate emergency water needs and identify possible gaps in 
humanitarian assistance.  The Bangladesh navy escorted the 
assessment team around the island and provided comprehensive 
information regarding the water situation. 
 
¶3. Dublar Char, a low-lying island that forms the outermost area of 
the Sundarbans Region, is approximately 80 square kilometers and 
comprises 9 smaller islands.  Dublar Char houses no permanent 
inhabitants; rather, 20,000 to 25,000 migratory fishermen come 
seasonally between the months of October and February.  Nearly the 
entire population is adult male.  The USAID/DART identified this 
population as non-vulnerable, resilient, and physically strong.  The 
residents of Dublar Char face perennial flooding and have 
accordingly developed strong coping mechanisms.  Traditional 
examples include the burying of personal assets, such as jerry cans 
and dry fruit, in preparation for cyclones and floods. 
 
¶4. The Bangladesh navy reported the death of approximately 250 
people in Dublar Char due to the impact of Cyclone Sidr.  To prepare 
for and mitigate the effects of cyclones, the GOB has built five 
cyclone shelters that can each house 2,000 people in the most 
extreme conditions.  Heavy rains and storm surge from Cyclone Sidr 
destroyed more than 200 homes on the island.  However, residents 
immediately built new temporary houses by salvaging shelter 
materials and wood from damaged trees. 
 
----------------------- 
USAID/DART OBSERVATIONS 
----------------------- 
 
¶5. The USAID/DART observed that emergency water needs are being met. 
 A GOB barge moored directly off of the coast carries 480 metric 
tons of clean water, where fishermen can travel via boat to fill 
their jerry cans with safe drinking water.  A Bangladesh navy ship 
also positioned off of the coast maintains large water reservoirs 
and bottles of water.  The USAID/DART commended the Bangladesh navy 
in meeting the emergency water needs of cyclone-affected 
 
DHAKA 00001870  002 OF 002 
 
 
populations.  International donors are also providing water 
assistance in Dublar Char, as the Japan International Cooperation 
Agency has provided five small-scale water purification filters and 
several storage bladders.  Furthermore, the temporary residents of 
the island have begun re-digging shallow wells and re-using 
traditional surface water sources, such as ponds. 
 
¶6. The USAID/DART reported that the impact of Cyclone Sidr did not 
significantly disrupt livelihoods, as residents of Dublar Char 
almost immediately recommenced fishing activities.  Likewise, these 
populations do not face food insecurity due to the successful 
resumption of fishing. 
 
¶7. Due to the temporary nature of the community living in Dublar 
Char, a methodical sanitation system was not in place prior to the 
cyclone.  Nevertheless, the Bangladesh navy reported no water-borne 
disease outbreaks due to poor water, sanitation, and hygiene 
conditions.  Similarly, a permanent healthcare system did not exist 
preceding the cyclone.  The Bangladesh navy indicated the need for 
more long-term health support and surveillance information on 
diarrhea and other water-borne diseases like cholera. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
USAID/DART RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶8. No further humanitarian assistance is required in Dublar Char, as 
the GOB and Bangladesh navy are successfully meeting emergency 
needs.  The USAID/DART concludes that island residents south of the 
Sundarbans do not face critical humanitarian challenges, since 
populations of Dublar Char exemplify small, transitory fishing 
communities throughout the area. 
 
¶9. Although immediate needs are being met, the USAID/DART recommends 
medium to long-term interventions to improve water, sanitation, and 
hygiene conditions in Dublar Char, including the development of 
large-diameter, protected shallow wells with sufficient storage 
capacity to serve large populations.  To improve this water supply, 
the USAID/DART recommends temporary water treatment and pumping 
systems during the fishing season. 
 
¶10. For future flood and cyclone responses, the USAID/DART 
encourages the stockpiling of water tablets for short-term, 
household water purification needs in the region. 
 
¶11. To help reduce future cyclone-related death tolls, the 
USAID/DART recommends the construction of additional cyclone 
shelters in Dublar Char. 
 
 
PASI