Bocas Information - U.S. Army Relief

The U.S. Southern Command was requested by Panama for relief assistance in Western Panama after the State of Emergency was declared. They work closely with USAID and the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. A team of 48 U.S. military personnel and seven helicopters began deploying from nearby Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras Nov. 25. The team is comprised of aviation and medical personnel that are working in coordination with national disaster response organizations from each country. So far, they hav e airlifted about five tons of USAID relief supplies and food, and evacuated 16 flood victims in need of immediate medical attention. Attached photograph is of one of these relief helicopters in Bocas on Nov. 30th, 2008off loading supplies.