President Obama, speaking at the White House today, expressed faith in Haiti’s government and described a conversation he had with Haitian President Rene Preval this morning.
“Like so many Haitians, President Preval himself has lost his home, and his government is working under extraordinarily difficult conditions,” Obama said. “I pledged America’s continued commitment to the government and the people of Haiti.”
That commitment includes the “long-term effort to rebuild,” he said, warning that there will be “many difficult days ahead.”
He said American resources are still arriving in Haiti, including the USS Carl Vinson, an aircraft carrier, which is carrying helicopters that will deliver water, food and “other life-saving supplies to priority areas of Port-au-Prince.” But it will time to establish distribution points to get the supplies out, he said.
Supplies are also arriving from Brazil, Mexico, Canada, France, Columbia, the Dominican Republic and other countries, he said.
“The entire world stands with the government and the people of Haiti,” Obama said.
He said he will meet with former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush at the White House tomorrow to discuss “how to enlist the American people” in the relief efforts.
The president also thanked the American troops, embassy workers and civilians working on the ground in Haiti.
“You demonstrate the courage and decency of the American people and we are extraordinarily proud of you,” he said. He also thanked people who have donated to the efforts for their “extraordinary compassion.”
Preval, he said, also wanted to express his gratitude.
“This president, seeing the devastation around him, passed this message on to the American people: He said, ‘From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of the people of Haiti, thank you, thank you, thank you,'” Obama said.
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