Airmen participate in "Angel" humanitarian operation in Timor-Leste

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TIMOR-LESTE, Baucau (AFNS) --  The Falintil Forças de Defesa de Timor-Leste, U.S. Air Force and Australian International Stabilization Forces are conducting Pacific Angel 11-02: Timor-Leste, a joint humanitarian and civic-military operation, in Baucau and Com.

Pacific Angel consists of several concurrent civil-military assistance activities including medical programs consisting of: dental, optometry, women's health, general medicine, engineering programs, and subject matter expert exchanges in public health education and veterinary education.

"Through operation Pacific Angel we (the Air Force, F-FDTL, and ISF) are able to provide the people of Timor-Leste with much needed support and care," said Lt. Col. Keith Gibson, the Pacific Angel 11-02: Timor-Leste commander. "Pacific Angel will help cultivate common bonds and foster goodwill between the United States, Timor-Leste and Australia by conducting multilateral humanitarian and civic assistance operations."

As part of the operation, civil-military planning and operations are being executed at Tri-Loka and Bella Vista Primary Schools in Baucau. The projects, valued at more than $100,000, will result in the schools receiving new roofing, doors, windows, electrical systems, paint and resurfaced floors.

"The children are very excited and we appreciate the improvements the military is making to our school," said Siprianas Biusasi, the Tri-Loka Primary School director. "The improvements will make our school a safer place to learn; and for that we are very grateful." 

Pacific Angel medical personnel will administer free primary medical, women's health, dental and optometry care to the residents of Timor-Leste in the Tri-Loca Primary School, Baucau and the Com Primary School, Com from Sept. 19-23.

"For many of the Timorese patients we see, this will be the first time they have ever been seen by a doctor," said Scott Ellison, Pacific Angel lead medical planner. "I feel blessed to be a part of this operation because I know what it means to the Timorese people. It means hope and a better way of life."

In addition to medical assistance and school renovations Pacific Angel will air drop rice for two orphanages and exchange veterinary practices to stop the spread of brucella in cattle across Timor-Leste.

Since 2007 U.S. military members, together with host nation military personnel throughout the Pacific region, have improved the lives of tens of thousands of people through operation Pacific Angel.

To view more Pacific Angel operations and photos, visit the 13th Air Force website and the PACAF Pixels blog.

(Courtesy of Pacific Angel 11-2 Public Affairs)