In the aftermath of a major earthquake which virtually flattened Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital city last Tuesday, President Obama who pledged America’s full support, said today that he is dispatching Vice President Joe Biden to meet with the Haitian-American Community in South Florida.
Biden, along with his wife, Dr. Jill Biden will travel to South Florida on Saturday where he would meet with Haitian- Americans regarding the United States response to the crisis in Haiti.
The Bidens will also be meeting with responders based in South Florida who are supporting and mobilizing relief efforts in Haiti.
South Florida is home to close to 400,000 Haiti-Americans, most of whom have relatives and other family in Haiti.
More than 36 hours after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocked the capital city of Port-au-Prince, many have not been able to contact family members, given that communication is virtually non-existent on the island. Understandably, there is great uncertainty among the Haiti-American community in South Florida as to the faith of their loved ones in Haiti.
Meanehile, President Obama speaking earlier today, January 14th said he has directed that a “swift, coordinated and aggressive effort,” be undertaken and US departments and agencies should make Haiti their top priority at this time. Obama said that the first waves of resue and relief efforts are already on the ground in Haiti, that the military had secured the airport to receive heavy equipment and that airlifts were being put in place for water, food and other essential supplies.
Obama noted that the US response underway represented “one of the largest relief efforts in recent history” and committed $100 million for an immediate investment in Haiti’s recovery.
“You (Haiti) will not be forsaken, you will not be forgotten,” Obama said. “America stands with you, the World stands with you”.
