JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii –
United States and Tonga will conduct humanitarian assistance operations July 21 - 26 as part of Operation Pacific Angel-Tonga.
Operation PACANGEL is a total force, joint and combined humanitarian assistance operation led by Pacific Air Forces. PACANGEL 2014 includes general health, dental, optometry, pediatrics, and engineering programs as well as various subject-matter expert exchanges.
PACANGEL enhances participating nations' humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities. Approximately 65 U.S. military members, along with local non-governmental organizations, and host nation military forces will conduct humanitarian assistance operations in Tonga as part of this operation.
Officially in its seventh year, PACANGEL supports U.S. Pacific Command's capacity-building efforts by partnering with other governments, non-governmental agencies and multilateral militaries in the respective region to provide medical, dental, optometry, and engineering assistance to their citizens.
These operations help improve and build relationships in the event of future humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. Since 2007, U.S. military members, together with host nation military and civilian personnel throughout the region, have improved the lives of tens of thousands of people through PACANGEL operations.