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Viewing cable 07DHAKA1847, USAID/OFDA Cyclone Sidr Situation Report #5: USAID/DART

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07DHAKA1847 2007-11-26 11:59 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Dhaka
VZCZCXRO5270
OO RUEHCI
DE RUEHKA #1847/01 3301159
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 261159Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5652
INFO RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 9386
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 1027
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0316
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 2609
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 8185
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 8271
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1914
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0408
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0589
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0039
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 001847 
 
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 #5:  USAID/DART 
Field Report and Initial Humanitarian Assessments 
 
 
1. Summary.  Tropical Cyclone Sidr made landfall in southern 
Bangladesh on November 15, 2007, leading to 3,061 deaths, affecting 
more than 6.8 million people, and damaging more than 1.2 million 
homes, according to the Government of Bangladesh's (GOB) Disaster 
Management Bureau and the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) as of 
November 25.  In response, USAID deployed a Disaster Assistance 
Response Team (USAID/DART) to assess the humanitarian situation on 
the ground, provide recommendations on priority needs, and assist 
with U.S. Government (USG) relief efforts.  From November 21 to 25, 
the USAID/DART and others conducted an initial field assessment of 
affected areas, traveling to Barisal, Patharghata, Patuakhali, and 
Bagerhat towns, as well as coastal villages south and southeast of 
Barguna town.  Communities residing in areas south of Barguna face 
the most critical challenges due to the impact of the cyclone, 
including the highest number of casualties, destroyed homes, and the 
loss of livestock, crops, and household assets.  The USAID/DART 
identified priority needs in emergency food aid, water, sanitation, 
and hygiene, emergency relief commodities, and shelter.  In the 
coming days, the USAID/DART will continue conducting in-depth 
assessments to evaluate humanitarian needs and target possible gaps 
in services where USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance 
(USAID/OFDA) could provide additional support.  End Summary. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
USAID/DART TRAVELS TO CYCLONE-AFFECTED AREAS 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
2. On November 21, members from the USAID/DART departed Dhaka for 
Barisal town in southern Bangladesh.  The USAID/DART participated in 
an interagency assessment mission of cyclone-affected areas in 
conjunction with the Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team (HAST), the 
Army Medical Corps, U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), and 
USAID/Bangladesh.  On November 22, the joint team accompanied 
implementing partner Save the Children to Patharghata town to 
witness a distribution of emergency relief commodities.  On November 
23, some members of the assessment team traveled with 
non-governmental organization (NGO) partner World Vision to Bagerhat 
town, Khulna Division.  Other members met with NGO partner CARE in 
Barguna town. 
 
3. On November 24, the U.S. military teams remained in Barisal and 
Patuakhali for additional assessments, while the USAID/DART and 
USAID/Bangladesh traveled by boat to cyclone-affected areas south 
and southeast of Barguna town.  In Nayabhunguni village, 
Chotobaisdia Union, the USAID/DART reported that heavy rains and 
storm surge led to the destruction of 22 homes located between high 
and low banks along the riverbed.  Most displaced families are 
currently living with neighbors.  In this village, the provision of 
food aid, shelter, and medical care are humanitarian priorities, 
according to the USAID/DART.  The team also visited Charagangga 
village, Borobaisdia Union, where the impact of the cyclone 
destroyed approximately 300 homes.  Here, the USAID/DART identified 
emergency needs in repairing dam walls along rivers, providing 
shelter, and constructing cyclone centers.  Subsequently, the 
USAID/DART visited Taktabunia village, Moudubi village, and Alipur 
town along the southern coast of Barguna District.  The interagency 
assessment team returned to Dhaka on November 25. 
 
----------------------- 
USAID/DART OBSERVATIONS 
----------------------- 
 
DHAKA 00001847  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
4. The USAID/DART reported that current statistics on affected 
populations are not consistent.  Ongoing, detailed assessments from 
implementing partners will better inform these numbers.  USAID/OFDA 
can expect initial results from these humanitarian assessments in 
the coming days. 
 
5. In areas north and northeast of Barguna town, the USAID/DART 
witnessed "pockets of destruction" caused by wind and storm surge. 
In areas south of Barguna town, destruction is more widespread, 
marked by damaged homes, agricultural fields, fisheries, and loss of 
livestock.  In addition, most fatalities due to the cyclone occurred 
in these southern areas.  The USAID/DART described areas south of 
Barguna town as the most cyclone-affected.  However, if the cyclone 
had occurred during high tide, given the 8 to 10 foot tidal change, 
storm surge and resultant flooding could have killed tens of 
thousands of additional people. 
 
6. The USAID/DART reported adequate road access to most areas on the 
mainland.  Due to a GOB policy allowing residents to harvest fallen 
trees free of charge, the roads were quickly cleared of debris and 
collapsed trees caused by the cyclone.  WFP in Dhaka also reported 
that main road access to most affected areas is now available, 
though slow and arduous.  The main challenge remains the "final 
mile," as described by the GOB and relief agencies, in reaching 
beneficiaries.  However, the USAID/DART indicated that several 
remote islands and some coastal areas remain accessible only by 
boat.  The U.S. military is investigating appropriate areas for 
marine and air access to support USG relief efforts.  In Barguna 
District, the Bangladesh navy facilitates emergency relief 
activities through Patharghata, Talibana, and Ashar Char ports. 
 
7. In Helbonia village, Dhalua Union, the USAID/DART encountered a 
settlement of 800 to 1,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) along 
the road.  Although the USAID/DART observed the presence of GOB food 
rations at the site of displacement, many of the IDPs reportedly had 
not received food assistance.  The USAID/DART also noted that 
displaced households had constructed shelter out of mats rather than 
plastic sheeting and other emergency supplies, suggesting that these 
IDPs had moved to higher ground as a standard coping mechanism for 
annual flooding. 
 
-------------------------- 
USAID/DART RECOMMENDATIONS 
--------------------------- 
 
8. According to the USAID/DART, Save the Children and World Vision 
are the most operational NGOs in the highly-affected areas.  Even 
though CARE has food capacity in the country, it needs logistical 
support to move emergency food commodities into affected areas.  The 
USAID/DART recommends and supports CARE's efforts to use U.S. 
military transport. 
 
9. The USAID/DART reported that emergency food aid is the highest 
priority for humanitarian assistance in response to the cyclone.  In 
the most affected areas, household reserves of food have been 
depleted or destroyed.  Food distributions will assist affected 
populations in the short-term.  Ongoing assessments will provide 
information on medium to long-term needs.  In addition, the 
USAID/DART questioned the actual percentage of crops destroyed by 
the cyclone, as reports from the GOB and aid agencies fluctuate from 
 
DHAKA 00001847  003 OF 003 
 
 
30 to 90 percent total crop loss.  If the percentage of crop loss is 
indeed high, affected communities may experience food insecurity and 
will need agricultural and livelihoods assistance in the medium 
term. 
 
10. The USAID/DART reported that the second humanitarian priority is 
water, sanitation, and hygiene.  [Note.  The Bangladesh military has 
identified water, sanitation, and hygiene as the first priority 
humanitarian need, while health care constitutes the second 
priority.  End note.]  The Bangladesh military and NGOs express the 
necessity of deploying water purification units in southern coastal 
areas, particularly where water sources are saline.  The USAID/DART 
supports this intervention in areas where high salinity levels or 
destroyed water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure have created 
unprotected water sources.  Further assessments will inform the 
potential need for deployment of water purification units.  The 
USAID/DART recommends immediately disinfecting existing water 
sources that are contaminated, increased preparedness for disease 
outbreaks, and continual hygiene promotion regarding safe drinking 
water and hand washing.  Ongoing assessments will provide more 
detailed information on medium to long-term interventions in water, 
sanitation, and hygiene. 
 
11. The USAID/DART identified emergency relief commodities as the 
third priority need, including water containers, blankets, winter 
clothing, soap, and cooking utensils.  Most household assets were 
swept away by the storm surge, particularly in the most affected 
areas south of Barguna town and along waterways. 
 
12. The USAID/DART identified shelter as an additional priority 
need.  While the team witnessed widespread damage to homes in highly 
affected areas south of Barguna town, damage to shelter existed 
mostly in pocketed areas north of Barguna.  More detailed analysis 
is forthcoming following ongoing humanitarian assessments.  The 
USAID/DART reported that immediate shelter needs include the 
distribution of corrugated iron sheeting, as affected communities 
have already begun rebuilding homes by salvaging materials. 
Medium-term shelter interventions will involve disaster risk 
reduction activities, such as constructing elevated, 
structurally-sound shelters. 
 
 
PASI