Congressional Black Caucus Stands In Solidarity With Disaster-Struck Haiti

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus took to the House floor early Wednesday evening to voice support for Haiti a day after a massive earthquake wreaked destruction on the Caribbean nation.

“It’s unimaginable,” Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) said, describing the 7.0 magnitude quake. “It rocks you in your soul.”

“We express our continued support of Haiti,” said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who chairs the caucus. “We stand in solidarity with Haitians and Haitian Americans who have lost loved ones.”

The chairwoman went on to thank rescue workers who have provided aid in search and rescue efforts.

While an official death toll has not been compiled, Haitian Senator Youri Latortue has told the Associated Press that fatalities could number 500,000. More conservative estimates hover around 100,000.

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.

Haiti

There was briefing at the United Nations today on the situation in Haiti. The briefer Hedi Annabi is the Secretary General's Special Representative to Haiti.

He said it is a different country than before the four hurricanes. A new government was installed on September 5th, and the new government has been very involved. There are huge infrastructure problems with electricity, roads, etc. Hedi Annabi called it a catastrophic situation. What has happened is way beyond the capacity of the government, he said. The UN is helping to build institutions such as reform for Haitian police. They hope to be able to reach 14,000 police by 2011. The goal is to have them perform basic police functions. Also they are working on a judicial
plan. A lot more needs to be done to respond to security threats within the country. He called it as close to you can get to "hell on earth."

The World Bank is providing $25 million in assistance. It is a difficult global situation. The investment situation will avoid costs of future instability. This remains a time of hope for Haiti. Mud has dried in some areas and has turned into cement. The government has deployed heavy equipment as well as volunteers. School year in some parts of the country has not begun. Haiti is only halfway through the hurricane season. Some things like the prison system are totally overwhelmed. The international standard is 2.5 meters per prisoner, but in Haiti it is 0.05 meters per prisoner which makes it impossible to lie down. He said that it is the poorest country in the hemisphere and that there are things that can have immediate impact.