What Mission will US Helicopters and Planes have in Panama?

Panama and the United States routinely carry out humanitarian programs to expand access to health and education.  From Tuesday, March 24th, until mid-April, U.S. planes and helicopters, in coordination with the Panamanian Ministry of Security, will participate in humanitarian assistance and security programs.  Members of the Southern Command and their teams will be deployed to remote areas of Panama. Additionally, these personnel will conduct joint surveillance exercises.  The Southern Command assigned three UH-60 (Black Hawk) helicopters pictured above and one HH-60 (Black Hawk) helicopter modified for medical assistance to these operations.  In addition, two C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft pictured below will be used. 

According to a press release from the State Department, UH-60 and HH-60 helicopters will transport school building materials to the communities of Ustupo and Mamitupu in the Guna Yala region.  They will also transport personnel for the donation ceremony of the Playón Chico health center, which was funded by the Southern Command’s humanitarian assistance program.  Also on the agenda for this operation is the transportation of food, medical supplies, and healthcare personnel from the United States and Panama.  For their part, the C-17 aircraft will transport boats, equipment, and support personnel to carry out routine bilateral security activities and will conduct joint exercises with Panamanian security forces.  These activities, according to the State Department, “are part of the cooperative efforts between the two countries to support Panama with the airlift of essential supplies to remote communities.”  One point highlighted in the statement is that Panama and the United States “regularly carry out humanitarian programs to expand access to healthcare and education for people in remote communities.”