Obama makes Haiti relief top priority
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U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday said that he has made the relief effort in Haiti the top priority of every government agency, vowing to mobilize "every element" of the United States to help the quake-hit country.
At least 100,000 people may have been killed in the magnitude 7. 0 earthquake that made the Caribbean country in ruin on Tuesday. International Federation of the Red Cross said some 3 million people may have been affected by the natural disaster.
Emergency assistance
In a speech made Thursday morning in the White House, President Obama announced a 100-million-dollar emergency assistance for Haiti.
"This will mean more of the life-saving equipment, food, water and medicine that will be needed. This investment will grow over the coming year as we embark on the long-term recovery from this unimaginable tragedy," said the president.
"The losses that have been suffered in Haiti are nothing less than devastating, and responding to a disaster of this magnitude will require every element of our national capacity. ... Haiti must be a top priority for their departments and agencies right now," said Obama.
Meanwhile, the United States has been providing 14,550 tons of food aid to Haiti, as an emergent supply for 1.2 million people for two weeks. The food aid, which includes 7,000 tons of rice, 4, 550 tons of corn soy blend and 3,000 tons of vegetable oil, is valued at about 18 million dollars.
According to U.S. Agency for International Development, the food aid will be transported in multiple shipments, with the first shipment leaving in the next few days, and be distributed by the UN World Food Program and private voluntary organizations.
Military reinforcement
Up to 3,500 U.S. Army troops have been mobilized to leave for Haiti to support disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.
According to Department of Defense, an initial contingent of 100 82nd Airborne Division troops deployed to Haiti around Thursday noon, another 800 soldiers will arrive in the country on Friday.
Meanwhile, about 2,000 Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are preparing for a 90-day deployment in Haiti.
U.S. Southern Command said the Marines will begin loading equipment on USS Bataan, USS Carter Hall and USS Fort McHenry on Friday.
The three amphibious ships will join the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy and the guided-missile frigate USS Underwood for the Haiti earthquake relief operation in Haiti.
Additionally, the hospital ship USNS Comfort has been preparing to get underway.
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