Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09DHAKA710, Bangladesh: Urgent Engineering/Contracting Needs for

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09DHAKA710.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09DHAKA710 2009-07-20 08:37 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Dhaka
VZCZCXRO1353
PP RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
DE RUEHKA #0710/01 2010837
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200837Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9181
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DHAKA 000710 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR DEPUTY SECRETARY LEW, ACTING DIRECTOR OF U.S. FOREIGN ASSISTANCE 
GREENE, ACTING AID ADMIN FULGHAM FROM AMBASSADOR MORIARTY 
 
DEPT ALSO FOR SCA, SCA/INSB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV ECON PTER BG
SUBJECT: Bangladesh: Urgent Engineering/Contracting Needs for 
Cyclone Sidr Supplemental Cornerstone Shelter Project 
 
1.  (U) This is an action request.  Please see paragraphs 2 and 11. 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
2.  (SBU) Post needs Washington engagement and support to implement 
Mission Dhaka's $34 million cyclone shelter construction project, 
the centerpiece of emergency supplemental funds Congress provided 
following cyclone Sidr in November 2007.  Insufficient engineering 
expertise and contracting staff have stymied USAID's effort to 
undertake the showcase project, notified to Congress and the 
Government of Bangladesh.  Our pledge of assistance to the people of 
Bangladesh is a test of U.S. commitment and ability to ramp up the 
field and Washington mechanisms required to complete this 
significant infrastructure project, which will directly advance U.S. 
goals in Bangladesh.  I request stepped-up Washington interagency 
engineering and contracting support for the cyclone shelter project, 
which will safeguard more than 60,000 Bangladeshis and provide 
schools for 15,000 children in 60 multi-purpose shelters. 
 
 
U.S. First Response Sets High Benchmark 
--------------------------------------- 
 
3.  (SBU) The effective U.S. initial response to Cyclone Sidr in 
November 2007 set a high benchmark and generated enormous goodwill. 
Sidr's widespread damage and destruction affected 30 of Bangladesh's 
64 districts, killing 3,500 and injuring 55,000.  Economic damage 
totaled as much as $2.5 billion.  Mission Dhaka, OFDA, the III 
Marine Expeditionary Battalion, and the U.S.S. Keersarge and U.S.S. 
Tarawa worked closely with the GOB to provide emergency food, 
shelter, and medical care to more than 100,000 cyclone victims. 
Within three weeks of the disaster, USAID had provided relief and 
early recovery activities totaling $6.2 million in shelter, water, 
sanitation, and hygiene programs, and $20 million in Title II 
emergency food assistance. 
 
U.S. Long Term Cyclone Sidr Assistance 
-------------------------------------- 
 
4.  (SBU) In the months following Cyclone Sidr, Congress provided 
$75 million in emergency supplemental funds for long-term relief 
projects in the southwestern Bangladesh area hit by the cyclone. 
USAID/Bangladesh has launched governance, agriculture, job creation 
and environment activities with $41 million.  USAID plans to use the 
remaining $34 million to construct approximately 60 multi-purpose 
cyclone shelters that will also serve as primary schools.  Support 
for disaster mitigation and prevention is a cornerstone of our 
development efforts in Bangladesh. 
 
Challenges Facing the Cyclone Shelter Program 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
5.  (SBU) To implement the cyclone shelter program, USAID/Bangladesh 
began building a management team, design research, and recruiting a 
construction contractor.  However, up until now, engineering and 
contracting capacity constraints have prevented us from launching 
the shelter program.  USAID/Bangladesh lacks long-term, onsite 
engineering to design and implement a large construction project. 
Other international donors in Bangladesh have supported cyclone 
shelter programs by transferring funds for this purpose to the GOB. 
This arrangement is not possible for USAID, which must follow agency 
regulations and guidelines and build the shelters to USAID-specified 
standards.  For similar reasons, USAID/Bangladesh found that it is 
not possible to transfer funds to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
to build the shelters. (Note:  DOD is building 24 cyclone shelters 
in Bangladesh.  End note.) 
 
Engineering Oversight Required 
------------------------------ 
 
6.  (SBU) USAID/Bangladesh has thus far had no success in recruiting 
a U.S. personal services contractor (USPSC) engineer to oversee this 
project; securing qualified American or local professionals is a 
chronic problem for Mission Dhaka.  To date, USAID/Bangladesh has 
relied exclusively on TDY support from USAID/Washington's 
engineering office.  The TDY support is insufficient, according to 
USAID's Contract Review Board (CRB).  The CRB advised that due to 
the size of the program, additional engineering input is needed 
before the Request for Proposal (RFP) can proceed.  USAID also 
requires engineering support to review proposals, select a 
contractor and oversee construction. 
 
Contracting Oversight Needed 
 
DHAKA 00000710  002 OF 003 
 
 
---------------------------- 
 
7.  (SBU) In addition to the need for a full-time, onsite engineer 
to oversee construction of the cyclone shelters, USAID/Bangladesh 
also requires another warranted contracting officer.  USAID has one 
contracting officer who is managing $90 million in 2009 programming 
for 23 awards and who will take on 16 new awards shortly.  The size 
and complexity of the cyclone shelter program demands an additional 
contracting officer. 
 
U.S. Assistance and U.S. Interests in Bangladesh 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
8.  (SBU) Mission Dhaka's cyclone shelter program is central to a 
growing U.S. assistance portfolio intended to help Bangladesh remain 
a stable and moderate Muslim country friendly to the United States. 
Bangladesh struggles with poverty, political polarization, porous 
borders, ungoverned spaces, weak rule of law and poor social service 
delivery.  Transnational terrorists have demonstrated their ability 
to use Bangladesh as a safe haven, transit point, and recruiting 
base.  Bangladesh's strong national identity, the history of its 
liberation struggle, and a legacy of moderate Islam limit popular 
support for extremism.  However, poverty and poor governance have 
given the extremists a toe hold, including in the southwestern areas 
hit by Sidr. 
 
Disaster Mitigation and Preparedness Key 
---------------------------------------- 
 
9.  (SBU) U.S. development assistance has more than doubled since 
2007 to over $170 million in 2009 in recognition of these realities 
and Bangladesh's growing strategic importance.  Improved disaster 
preparedness and response capabilities are key U.S. development 
objectives in Bangladesh.  Due to its large population, a unique 
deltaic river system, and changing climate conditions, Bangladesh 
faces yearly water-related disasters.  Annual monsoon flooding 
engulfs about 30 percent of the country, exacerbated by other 
natural disasters which strike on average more than once a year. 
Each disaster endangers the precarious existence of millions of 
poor, with the Government of Bangladesh struggling to respond 
effectively and forestall disaster victims from turning to violence 
or extremism. 
 
Cyclone Shelters: Cornerstone of U.S. Commitment 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
10. (SBU) Mission Dhaka's plan to build another 60 USAID cyclone 
shelters is a key component of our disaster mitigation assistance 
and overall development program, central to U.S. interests in 
Bangladesh.  Not only will the shelters save lives during disasters, 
but they will serve as schools and government offices on a daily 
basis, contributing to human development and government stability. 
The shelters would also serve as a material reminder to the people 
of southwestern Bangladesh of the U.S. commitment to their country. 
Recent events again demonstrated the importance of USG assistance: 
Cyclone Aila struck Bangladesh in May 2009 with winds of over 90 
kilometers per hour, killing 190 people, injuring 7,000, and 
displacing more than 500,000 families. 
 
Action Request:  Engineer, Contracting, Backstopping Needed 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
11.  (SBU) I request interagency engagement to secure an engineer, 
contracting officer and the Washington backstop support necessary to 
implement the $34 million cyclone shelter program.  We have set the 
task, notified Congress and the Government of Bangladesh, and need 
to take next steps necessary to achieve this declared objective.  A 
possible approach might be to designate these slots as critical 
priority positions.  We have the financial resources to make a 
lasting contribution to Bangladesh's disaster preparedness, 
potentially saving the lives of tens of thousands of Bangladeshis 
and educating thousands more.  Safeguarding lives, educating 
children and building a more stable Bangladesh is in the direct 
interest of the United States.  The cyclone shelters are a 
cornerstone of that effort. 
 
Moriarty 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DHAKA 00000710  003 OF 003 
 
 
2