MANILA, Embajada de EE. UU. en Filipinas — Cerca de 2000 miembros del personal militar y médico de los Estados Unidos, Filipinas, Australia, Chile, Corea del Sur y el Reino Unido participaron en Pacific Partnership 2022 (PP22), el mayor ejercicio anual de asistencia humanitaria multilateral realizado en el Indo-Pacífico, que concluyó en Palawan el 16 de agosto.
La Jefa de Misión Adjunta de la Embajada de los EE. UU., Heather Variava, asistió a las ceremonias de clausura del PP22 a bordo del buque hospital de 1,000 camas USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), que ha estado atracado en la ciudad de Puerto Princesa desde el 27 de julio. Embajadora británica Laure Beaufils, vicepresidenta de la ciudad de Puerto Princesa También estuvieron presentes la alcaldesa María Nancy Sócrates, el jefe de Estado Mayor de las Fuerzas Armadas de Filipinas (AFP), el teniente general Vicente Bartolomé Bacarro, y el comandante del Comando Occidental de las AFP (WesCom), el vicealmirante Alberto Carlos.
Durante dos semanas, marineros estadounidenses del USNS Mercy y profesionales médicos de Filipinas y países socios realizaron más de 9600 procedimientos médicos que beneficiaron a los residentes de siete barangays en la ciudad de Puerto Princesa y realizaron casi doscientas cirugías a bordo del barco hospital estadounidense.
Participating military personnel worked side by side to complete several humanitarian assistance projects, including the renovation of barangay halls and schools, community health engagements, and exchanges of advanced emergency rescue and lifesaving techniques. These activities improved local infrastructure, enhanced medical capacity-building, and strengthened ties between the local community and military forces.
“It is inspiring to see this multilateral effort as an opportunity to provide medical services to the residents of Puerto Princesa City while also enabling our forces to train alongside local health officials and work together on community-building projects to ensure that we are prepared for future crises,” said U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Heather Variava. “PP22 is an amazing program that strengthens the bond between partner nations, and I look forward to our continued cooperation with our Philippine and international partners as we work together to support each other in jointly responding to natural disasters.”
“The coordination between the Philippine government and the local community, the AFP, and all our partner nations during PP22 contributed to enhanced understanding and cooperation, as well as prepared all involved to respond as partners to any hazard they we may face,” said Capt. Hank Kim, Pacific Partnership commander.
In his remarks, AFP Chief of Staff Bacarro emphasized the longstanding alliance between the U.S. and the Philippines as the foundation of the Pacific Partnership. “Every Pacific Partnership mission has transformed and further strengthened our regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increasing stability and security in the region,” Lt. Gen. Bacarro said. “Meaningful partnerships and missions such as this present us with a myriad of opportunities to forge new and enduring friendships across the Indo-Pacific region to further our national and regional security objectives.”
Now on its 17th iteration, Pacific Partnership promotes cooperation between military and civilian organizations to effectively prepare for disaster response.
FUENTE: https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/3132651/us-partner-militaries-conclude-pacific-partnership-2022-humanitarian-exercises/
