JOINT INTERAGENCY PLANNING MEETING BETWEEN USG AND GOB TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001848 SIPDIS / / / C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - ADD SENSITIVE CAPTION / / / 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: JOINT INTERAGENCY PLANNING MEETING BETWEEN USG AND GOB TO COORDINATE CYCLONE RELIEF EFFORTS DHAKA 00001848 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Planners from the US military elements in Bangladesh and, along with representatives from USAID's Bangladesh mission, USAID/OFDA, and DOS attended a joint, interagency planning and coordination meeting with the Bangladeshi military and civilian agencies November 25 at Armed Forces Division Headquarters. The main goal of the meeting was to develop a four-day plan which the US military elements can execute with capacity on-hand or available within that window, responding to specific and achievable requirements in conjunction with USAID and OFDA priorities. Both the Bangladeshi and U.S. military agreed to increase liaison activities, such as embedding liaison officers within each other's command centers. A follow up meeting November 26 lead by Brigadier General Baily, with CDA a.i. Pasi, USAID Mission Director Rollins, Brigadier General Bailey, USAID/OFDA Dolan and Bangladeshi Army Chief General Moeen Uddin Ahmed and a group of Bangladeshi military officers reinforced these themes. END SUMMARY. NOVEMBER 25 MEETING OVERVIEW ¶2. (SBU) Brigadier General Abid chaired the November 25 meeting at Armed Forces Division (the rough Bangladeshi equivalent to the Joint Chiefs of Staff level). Initial introductions emphasized that the U.S. military is here to augment the Bangladeshi relief operation, filling gaps as required to provide that support. The overall idea for U.S. military disaster relief is to cover the short term gap until domestic and international medium and long term capacity increases to meet the new demands caused by Cyclone Sidr. U.S. and Bangladeshi representatives all concurred that maintaining a Bangladeshi lead presence in operations is critical for success on both sides. To further the necessary close coordination for success, a U.S. officer will be embedded at Bangladesh's Armed Forces Division and likewise a Bangladeshi officer will be embedded at the U.S. military Coordination Center at the Embassy. REQUIREMENTS IDENTIFIED BY THE BANGLADESHIS ¶3. (SBU) The specific requirements, listed in priority order by the Brigadier General Abid are as follows: A) airlift of relief material currently warehoused in Dhaka to the hub at Barisal, B) airlift distribution of relief materials at Barisal to remote distribution locations, C) airlift of drinking water to five specific locations, D) deploying U.S. military medical teams to affected areas, and E) Transport of relief material from secondary locations such as Chittagong (principal seaport),Jessore, or other areas to Barisal or directly to remote distribution locations. After breaking up in to focus areas, (air & sea operations, logistics, security, information, evaluation, and medical),the group reconvened to present specific ways to meet the requirements. DHAKA TO BARISAL AIRLIFT ¶4. (SBU) The Bangladeshis identified 160 metric tons of relief materials in Dhaka, specifically food, blankets, clothes and tentage. Based on flight times and fuel loads, air planners decided that a C-130 cargo aircraft would be more efficient at transporting this bulk cargo than helicopters. U.S. Air Force elements are attempting to determine the feasibility of employing a larger, C-17, cargo aircraft between Dhaka and Barisal. Even with C-130 flights, air planners estimate they will be able to move all 160 metric tons within 4 days - the C-17 would allow this to move even faster. Regardless, it is likely that the determining factor will be Bangladeshi and U.S. joint capacity to process the relief goods from Barisal out to the remote distribution locations. BARISAL TO REMOTE DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS ¶5. (SBU) Prioritized locations will be provided from Armed Forces Division to air planners, allowing them to begin developing flight plans and confirming suitable landing zones. All participants at the meeting agreed that U.S. aircraft will not/not land at a site that is not confirmed secured by Bangladeshi ground elements and with an agency capable of managing distribution on site. DHAKA 00001848 002.2 OF 002 POTABLE WATER DELIVERY ¶6. (SBU) The Bangladeshis identified delivery of potable water, using 5,000 collapsible water jugs from USS Kearsarge, to five locations in the cyclone's impact area (Doblar Char, Shoron Khola, Kalapara, Galachipa, and Borguna) as one of their priorities. USS Kearsarge has substantial potable water production capabilities and can definitely meet this requirement; air planners from the U.S. military are studying if this request can be met on November 26. Two of the five locations have previously been surveyed as acceptable, Galachipa and Borguna. U.S. MILITARY MEDICAL TEAMS ¶7. (SBU) The USARPAC Medical Team will deploy to Pathuakhali after coordination with the Bangladeshi military in Barisal and in local control of the response. The specific medical needs expected to be met are water borne diseases, malnutrition, diarrheal diseases, skin diseases, and cyclone inflicted wounds. These teams will be co-located with Bangladeshi military medical assets at Pathuakhali hospital for security and translation purposes. SECONDARY MATERIALS TRANSPORT FROM OTHER AREAS ¶8. (SBU) Flight times and fuel consumption are prohibitive for helicopters from USS Kearsarge to fly cargo from secondary sites such as Chittagong or Jessore airfields to Barisal or remote distribution points. Chittagong airfield could also support C-130, or even C-17 flights if Barisal is also certified for C-17 aircraft, if cargo loads justify that allocation of resources. Sea lift planners indicated LCAC (large capacity hovercraft) were available to carry cargo from Chittagong either to surveyed landing sites or to the USS Kearsarge for flight directly to remote distribution points. FOLLOW UP MEETING WITH GENERAL MOEEN ¶9. (SBU) The U.S. team briefed General Moeen, his staff and other officers on the concept of U.S. military operations, which was eagerly accepted by the Bangladeshis. General Moeen asked if we could also assist with transportation of relief supplies (both public and private) that are currently located in other areas of Bangladesh such as Rajshahi, Chittagong, and Sylhet. Moeen demonstrated that he has taken a "hands on" approach to the operation and that he is not averse to pushing his subordinates to get things done. COMMENT ¶10. (SBU) Bangladeshi military officials enthusiastically engaged with U.S. military counterparts to augment the Bangladesh military's existing response. USAID Bangladesh and USAID/OFDA articulated ways in which the military could engage with non-governmental organizations that are USAID partners. The civilian government representatives, from the Ministry of Food and Disaster Relief, were not as actively engaged and were not able to clearly express to Emboff how the requirements presented by the military matched with Ministry of Food and Disaster Response operations. There appears to be the potential for a disconnect between the military and civilian responses, based in part on the lack of civilian capability. This potential disconnect may be mitigated by two factors, the fact that the chief civilian coordinator of relief activities, Communications Adviser M.A. Matin, is a retired Major General, and the fact that civilian officials at the district and local levels appear to be working with the military to coordinate distribution of relief supplies. END COMMENT. PASI