Obama Remarks on Recovery Efforts in Haiti

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that "three million people — about a third of Haiti's population — had been affected" by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday. International aid groups have estimated the death toll to be in the tens of thousands.

Medical supplies have been highlighted as particularly crucial in the effort to save lives in a country which was already severely stretched for medical resources before the earthquake.  Tammam Aloudat, an emergencies specialist at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) Societies in Geneva stated that "[m]any other quakes have shown us very clearly that of people who suffer injuries and die as a result, most deaths occur within the first 72 hours."

President Obama remarked this morning on U.S. efforts to provide aid.  He noted the practical challenges that the aid effort faces, such as, communication difficulties and Haiti's damaged main port and roads.  Obama said that rescue and relief workers are currently on the ground and a team worked throughout the night "to identify priority areas for assistance, and shared the results of that review throughout the United States government, and with international partners who are also sending support." He also committed an immediate investment of $100 million to support U.S. relief efforts

Obama stated:  "We will partner with the United Nations and its dedicated personnel and peacekeepers, especially those from Brazil, who are already on the ground due to their outstanding peacekeeping efforts there.  And I want to say that our hearts go out to the United Nations, which has experienced one of the greatest losses in its history.  We have no doubt that we can carry on the work that was done by so many of the U.N. effort that have been lost, and we see that their legacy is Haiti's hope for the future."

Obama's concluding remarks were directed to the people of Haiti: "we say clearly, and with conviction, you will not be forsaken; you will not be forgotten.  In this, your hour of greatest need, America stands with you.  The world stands with you.So today, you must know that help is arriving -- much, much more help is on the way."

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