U.S. President Barack Obama, standing alongside U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, on Wednesday pledged his commitment to helping Haiti following the devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake they experienced late on Tuesday. In a brief statement from the Diplomatic Room from the White House, Obama extended his "deep condolences and unwavering support" for the people of Haiti, saying that though the toll of the devastation is not yet entirely clear, the "images...are truly heart wrenching." Not even a full day after the earthquake hit the impoverished nation, search and rescue teams from Florida, Virginia, and California have already been sent, as Obama reiterated the need for a "swift, coordinated... effort to save lives" from his government. Putting specific emphasis on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Defense, Obama urged immediate action, saying "the first hours and days are the most critical." Currently, U.S. aid workers are asked to help account for U.S. embassy employees and U.S. citizens that were in Haiti. He also said that as the United States works to "deliver the humanitarian relief... that Haitians will need in the coming days," it is critical for the U.S. government to act in a "unified way."
