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 09DHAKA742, LIFE IN DHAKA COMES TO STANDSTILL AFTER RECORD

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. #09DHAKA742.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09DHAKA742 2009-07-29 09:51 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Dhaka
VZCZCXRO9061
OO RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
DE RUEHKA #0742/01 2100951
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 290951Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9233
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 8590
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000742 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/INSB AND SCA/FO 
USAID/W FOR MELLIS AND RHOWELL ANE/SAA 
BANGKOK FOR USAID/OFDA WBERGER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT ASEC BG CASC EAID PGOV PINR PINS PREL
SUBJECT: LIFE IN DHAKA COMES TO STANDSTILL AFTER RECORD 
RAINS 
 
SUMMARY 
======== 
 
1.  (SBU)  Record rainfall overnight July 28 left major 
sections of Dhaka temporarily underwater, bringing normal 
life in the capital to a standstill and causing significant 
localized damage.  The Prime Minister immediately convened an 
emergency meeting of Dhaka city and ministry officials and 
criticized them for failing to adequately maintain the 
capital's drainage system.  The diplomatic enclave was not 
spared the effects of the storm, with several embassy 
residences suffering water damage.  We do not have any 
reports of injuries to American citizens.  The GOB and donors 
do not plan to provide assistance to those affected by the 
rains, but this episode has highlighted the need to prepare 
for future storms and potential flooding in Dhaka. 
 
Record Rains Affect Life in Dhaka City 
====================================== 
 
2. (U)  Dhaka city and surrounding areas received record 
precipitation the evening of July 27 - 28 with  Bangladesh's 
Met Office reporting rainfall of 333 mm (13 inches) in a 24 
hour period--close to the average for the entire month. 
Nearly 300 mm (11 inches) fell in just a six-hour period.  As 
a result, residents of Dhaka awoke the morning of July 28 to 
flooded streets, houses, and underground structures.  Many 
residents were stranded as transportation ground to a halt. 
Trading at the Dhaka Stock Exchange was delayed for an hour 
as the building housing the bourse was also flooded. 
Likewise, government offices were slow to open as the main 
Secretariat area was inundated with several feet of water and 
office workers were unable to reach the location.  The worst 
hit areas were in old Dhaka and in the city's business 
district.  The media has reported 10 deaths, mainly caused by 
electrocution, resulting from the storm.  Many businesses 
also suffered damage, with numerous small shopkeepers seeing 
their stores wiped out. 
 
Government Responds 
=================== 
 
3. (SBU)  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was quick to respond 
to the storm, convening an emergency meeting that included 
the State Minister for Local Government, officials from the 
Water and Sewer Department, and the Dhaka City Corporation 
mayor.  Hasina stressed the importance of clearing the city's 
drainage system and accused officials of negligence.  Many 
observers noted the impact of clogged and filled in drainage 
canals.  In a meeting July 29, State Minister for Foreign 
Affairs Dr. Hasan Mahmud said the storm had highlighted the 
need to prepare for future flooding.  He observed that 
Dhaka's growth had occurred in an environmentally 
unsustainable manner, leaving the city vulnerable to such 
disasters.  At the same time, Hasan said the GOB had no plans 
to provide assistance to those affected by the storm.   The 
GOB would look at longer term responses, such as clearing 
drains and expanding the holding capacity of lakes and canals 
in the capital area. 
 
Impact on Embassy Operations 
============================ 
 
4. (U)  While spared the worst effects of the storm, the 
diplomatic enclave also suffered damage from the record 
rainfall.  Lakes on the border of the zone overflowed, 
inundating neighboring properties and causing localized 
flooding.  Water entered 13 Embassy residences, causing 
minimal damage but no injuries.  One residence was rendered 
uninhabitable by flood water, and a bamboo scaffolding from a 
neighboring building also fell and damaged the unit's water 
tank.  While high water near the Embassy was receding by 
morning and roads were open in the immediate vicinity, 
several Locally Engaged Staff were unable to report to work 
because of flooding in their neighborhoods or blocked access 
routes.  Embassy hours were not affected. 
 
Comment 
======= 
 
5. (SBU)  As we have seen in coastal regions following recent 
storms, over the years Bangladesh's high population density 
leaves it vulnerable to natural disasters.  Dhaka's rapid 
urbanization and inadequate infrastructure have left 
residents of the capital city particularly vulnerable. With 
 
DHAKA 00000742  002 OF 002 
 
 
the rain waters subsiding, those who suffered losses will 
face the grim task of recovering without assistance from the 
government or donors.  In the meantime, all are watching the 
weather forecasts and hoping that the heavy rains do not 
return. 
MORIARTY