Obama: Situation in Haiti Remains "Dire"

Following what he called a "very productive meeting" with Haitian president Rene Preval, President Obama said "the situation on the ground [in Haiti] remains dire, and people should be under no illusions that the crisis is over."

"I again what to express to you and to the Haitian people the deepest condolences of the American people," Mr. Obama said, standing beside Preval in the White House Rose Garden. "You remain in our thoughts and in our prayers."

The president sought to give people a sense of the scope of the catastrophe, saying that "it's as if the United States in a terrible incident lost nearly 8 million people," and also faced a situation in which 100 million Americans, one-third of the country, had lost their homes and access to food and water.

"No nation could respond to such a catastrophe alone," he said, adding that the disaster "even now defies comprehension."

Mr. Obama lauded Americans who worked to help Haiti in the wake of the earthquake and said "the United States has been proud to play a leading role" in relief efforts. He noted that more than 100 Americans died in the tragedy and said "the United States joins in mourning the loss of American citizens."

The president said there remained a "desperate need" for food, shelter and medicine in Haiti, stating that the "challenge now is to avoid a second disaster." He said that was the reason that Americans remained in the country at the invitation of the Haitian government.

Preval, speaking after Mr. Obama, thanked the president and went on to endorse the establishment of "red helmets," observers who could be a "warning system" for problems in the rebuilding and relief effort.

"Effectiveness must be improved," he said.