Obama earmarks $100 million for ‘top priority’ Haiti relief

WASHINGTON — Saying relief for earthquake-devastated Haiti must be a “top priority” for U.S. government agencies, President Barack Obama announced Thursday additional U.S. search and rescue teams and critical supplies are on the way to the Caribbean nation.

Flanked by members of the Cabinet at the White House, Obama also announced an immediate investment of $100 million in the recovery effort for Haiti, where the death toll may top 100,000.

“America stands with you,” Obama said to Haitians in a short statement. “You will not be forsaken, you will not be forgotten.”

The first waves of U.S. rescue and relief workers are on the ground in Haiti now, Obama said.

Tuesday’s 7.0-magnitude quake — the first to hit Haiti
in more than two centuries — destroyed thousands of buildings,
including the presidential palace, and knocked out telephone service
and electricity.

U.S. special operations forces have reopened Haiti’s airport, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday morning.

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