VZCZCXYZ0017
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHKA #0064 0191040
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY AD109F61 WSC3362-695)
O 191040Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9912
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE PRIORITY 0001
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO PRIORITY 0012
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0199
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
UNCLAS DHAKA 000064
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION
HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE, AND USAID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL PINR AMGT HA BG
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF BANGLADESH OFFERS TO SEND A MEDICAL
TEAM TO HAITI
REF: STATE 0428
1. (SBU) In a meeting with the Defense Attach on January
18, the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division
declared that the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) wished to
send a medical team of 30 to assist in relief efforts in
Haiti. It will be led by an Army Colonel and comprised of 10
doctors and 20 paramedics and medical specialists. The team
is available to leave immediately via commercial air.
2. (SBU) The GOB is still examining different options for
their travel to Haiti and has ruled out the possibility of
self-deploying via C-130 military aircraft. As a result,
they will no longer be able to carry the approximately six
tons of medicines and other medical supplies that they had
initially hoped to take. They plan to send their team via
commercial air and have asked Post to coordinate their
arrival and integration into the relief effort as soon as
possible. We have agreed to expedite any visas should the
team need to travel through the U.S.
3. (SBU) We have also been discussing with the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, the lead agency on foreign disaster relief
assistance, additional possible contributions to the relief
effort in Haiti. We will report back on this should anything
become available. We strongly urge consideration of this
generous offer of medical assistance and would appreciate
knowing if any provisions exist to help facilitate the
team,s travel to Haiti. Bangladesh is keenly aware of the
support provided by the international community (led by the
U.S.) following past natural disasters here and wants to
contribute to Haiti in its time of need. For the Bangladesh
Army, past experience in Peacekeeping Operations in Haiti
provides a further impetus to contributing to relief efforts.
MORIARTY