US embassy cable - 05DHAKA3696

UNCLAS DHAKA 003696 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
DCHA/OFDA FOR ROBERT THAYER 
AID/W FOR CHRIS LA FARGUE, ANE/SAA (A) DESK OFFICER 
STATE/W FOR SA/PB 
DCHA/FFP FOR MATTHEW NIMS AND LAUREN LANDIS 
ROME FOR FODAG 
BANGKOK FOR TOM DOLAN 
KATHMANDU FOR BILL BERGER, REBECCA SCHEURER 
 
E.O. 12958 
TAGS: EAID, BG, IT, TH, NP, IN, BGD Floods 
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH 2005 FLOOD CONDITION REPORT NO. 4 
 
REFERENCE: DHAKA 03572 DATED JULY 25, 2005 
 
1.  Summary:  This cable updates the information provided in 
the referenced cable.  The monsoon was less active over the 
Brahmaputra, the Ganges and the South Eastern Hill basins 
last week.  Light rainfall was recorded at all except one 
place in these three river basins. The Meghna basin 
experienced moderate monsoon during the same period.  The 
overall flood situation in the country remains normal and, 
for the most part, not alarming.  Rainfall and river level 
patterns over the next two weeks will be critical in 
determining the impact of this year's floods.  The 
Government, local aid agencies and communities are 
responding to isolated incidents of flooding using local 
coping capacity. End Summary. 
 
2.  Rainfall:  According to the BDG Flood Forecasting and 
Warning Center (FFWC) report dated 31 July, 2005, almost no 
rainfall over the Brahmaputra basin, light rainfall at a few 
places over the Ganges and the South Eastern Hill basins and 
light to moderate rainfall at many places over the Meghna 
basin has been recorded. 
 
3.  General Rivers Condition:  Yesterday, the FFWC water 
level monitoring stations' records, available from 71 
reporting stations (out of the total 86 stations) indicated, 
12 points rising, 54 points falling and 3 points remaining 
steady.  The rivers are flowing above their respective 
danger levels at 2 points.  These are the Padma at Bhagyakul 
and the Meghna at Chandpur.  The Brahmaputra-Jamuna and the 
Ganges-Padma continued to fall at all points.  Most of the 
rivers in the Meghna and the South Eastern hill basins 
registered further decreases. 
 
4. Regional Flood Conditions:  The flood situation in most 
north-eastern districts continues to improve. Water 
inundation of low-lying areas in and around Dhaka, 
Munshiganj and Narayanganj districts are expected to 
deteriorate slightly over the coming days as surrounding 
floodwaters settle in these low areas. Some low-lying 
cultivable lands are already submerged due to excessive 
rain.  A number of communities in the north-western 
districts have been marooned by floodwaters and therefore 
evacuated to the nearest high points. 
 
5. Rainfall/Flood Prediction:  Rainfall predictions by the 
Bangladesh Meteorological Department are light to normal for 
the first week of August.  The flood situation is likely to 
further improve in the Brahmaputra and the Ganges basins. 
 
6. Government of Bangladesh Response:  BDG District-level 
Disaster Management Committees have started to meet with the 
related organizations in order to maintain a close watch 
over the situation, as well as to coordinate and prioritize 
any BDG responses. 
 
7.  Mission Strategy:  The Mission continues to closely 
monitor the monsoon condition through its NGO partners and 
the Disaster Emergency Response local consultative sub- 
group, consisting of BDG, donors and implementing partner 
representatives. 
CHAMMAS