17 January 2010

Secretary Clinton Speaks With Reporters in Port-au-Prince

United States focused on rescue and humanitarian assistance

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
January 16, 2010

PRESS AVAILABILITY

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

January 16, 2010
Port-au-Prince, Haiti

SECRETARY CLINTON: We are focused on providing humanitarian assistance, water, food, medical help, to those who are suffering. We also are working with the Haitian Government on the continuing rescue of those who can be rescued.

There are nearly 30 teams from all over the world who are working right now to rescue people who are still alive. Most of the people that the American teams have rescued are Haitians. President Préval has just met a man who had survived all of these days, and we are very – five days. And we are very grateful for that rescue.

We discussed the priorities of restoring communications, electricity and transportation. And we agreed that we will be coordinating closely together to achieve these goals.

I am very proud of the work that our American Embassy has done, our USAID, the Agency for International Development, for our U.S. military, and for all of the private groups and citizens and church-based organizations that are here in Haiti working with the Haitian people.

I want to speak directly to the Haitian people through the Haitian media. We are here at the invitation of your government to help you. As President Obama has said, we will be here today, tomorrow, and for the time ahead. And speaking personally, I know of the great resilience and strength of the Haitian people. You have been severely tested. But I believe that Haiti can come back even stronger and better in the future. Thank you.

QUESTION: (In French.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: There is so much that has to be done, and that is why President Preval and I will be issuing a joint communiqué tomorrow – it will be translated into all the necessary languages – setting forth our intention to cooperate together. And much of the work that will need to be done will be reconstruction and rebuilding.

QUESTION: (In French.)

QUESTION: Can we expect more than $100 million, Madame Secretary?

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, given the --

QUESTION: Are sufficient safeguards in place to ensure that money is spent wisely?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes. (Inaudible) set of ground rules that will be followed. As you may know, we were working closely with the Government of Haiti before this tragedy and had worked out many of the issues that needed to be addressed in order to deliver assistance, and we’re going to build on that.

QUESTION: Thank you.