BANGLADESH REQUESTS IMMEDIATE US MILITARY SUPPORT FOR

UNCLAS DHAKA 001826 SIPDIS SENSITIVE 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 PINR PREL BG SUBJECT: BANGLADESH REQUESTS IMMEDIATE US MILITARY SUPPORT FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE / DISASTER RELIEF OPERATIONS. REF: DHAKA 1815, DHAKA 1814, DHAKA 1808, DHAKA 1808, DHAKA 1797, STATE 157623, DHAKA 1796 AND PREV. ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. CDA a.i. received a broad request from the GOB for immediate U.S. military resources to participate in the response to Cyclone Sidr. U.S. military planners already present in Bangladesh will now begin developing specific operational plans for implementing this request in conjunction with USAID/OFDA and host nation counterparts. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) BANGLADESH REQUESTS US MILITARY ASSISTANCE. CDA a.i., DATT and Acting DCM met with Chief of Army Staff Gen Moeen Uddin Ahmed 1015 a.m. November 22 at CDA a.i's request to discuss potential U.S. military resources available for support in the aftermath of Cyclone Sidr. General Moeen extended a broad invitation for the US military to support ongoing relief operations; Ref B details the US military resources present in Bangladesh. General Moeen also expressed gratitude for the items already delivered by USAID/OFDA. ¶3. (SBU) SPECIFIC US MILITARY CAPABILITIES. Matching up host nation needs, within the overall framework of the USAID/OFDA operation and ongoing Mission goals, with available US military resources will be a continuing process, but General Moeen initially identified three initial priorities. These are: a) logistics and cargo lift capability, b) freshwater production, containerization and distribution, and c) deploying medical teams to impacted areas. These resources are present on the USS Kearsarge, with an estimated arrival of November 23. ¶4. (SBU) COORDINATION OF EFFORT. All aspects of this operation will be closely coordinated with USAID, the lead USG agency in relief efforts. US military operations will also be coordinated with public diplomacy goals. For example, the Information Support Team already present in the Mission will develop media products in support of all phases of US military humanitarian assistance to multiply effort and effectiveness. ¶5. (SBU) HOST NATION COORDINATION. In the meeting between General Moeen and Emboffs, General Moeen expressed concern that the GOB response needed to be better organized and that accurate information be distributed to decision makers. General Moeen added that he had recommended to the Chief Adviser that the GOB designate a Chief Coordinator for relief efforts. This Chief Coordinator would initially be established at a forward operating base in Barisal. General Moeen confirmed that initial plans for this forward operating base include space for the U.S. government to establish its own forward liaison element. PASI