Obama Pledges Swift Humanitarian Action Following Haitian Earthquake

President Barack Obama pledged “swift, coordinated and aggressive” action Wednesday in response to the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti Tuesday.

“The people of Haiti will have the full support of the United States in the urgent effort to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble, and to deliver the humanitarian relief,” Obama said. “[Agency for International Development] and the Departments of State and Defense are working closely together and with our partners in Haiti, the region and around the world.”


Photo: GeoEye Satellite Image

The American response will include mobilizing required resources for search and rescue operations and placing Agency for International Development administrator Rajiv Shah as the U.S. unified disaster coordinator. 

According to Obama, locating American citizens in the employment of Haiti’s U.S. embassy will also be a top priority.

While the president did not give an estimate for the death toll following the quake, it is expected to be in the thousands.