A large force of U.S. sailors and Marines has joined with Cambodian troops in disaster relief and humanitarian assistance exercises near the capital, Phnom Penh, and the deepwater port of Sihanoukville.

The U.S. embassy in the capital said the weeklong exercises, which began Monday, include medical and mass casualty drills, platoon maneuvers and a blood drive campaign aimed at fostering community relations.

The 1,700-member U.S. contingent includes Marines and sailors from the amphibious transport ships USS Pearl Harbor and USS New Orleans.