US First Lady Michelle Obama (C) speaks with Haitian Prime Minister Rene Preval and his wife Elisabeth Delatour Preval (R) during a surprise visit to Haiti in Port au-Prince. Obama stopped in Haiti on her way to Mexico on her first solo trip since her husband, Barack Obama, became president of the United States in January 2009.
by Clarens Renois Clarens Renois – 2 hrs 1 min ago
PORT-AU-PRINCE (AFP) – US First Lady Michelle Obama paid a surprise visit to Haiti Tuesday and toured the Caribbean nation's capital devastated by a massive earthquake three months ago.
"It's powerful. The devastation is definitely powerful," Obama, said as she stopped in Haiti on her way to Mexico on her first solo trip since her husband, Barack Obama, became president of the United States in January 2009.
She was accompanied by Jill Biden, wife of US Vice President Joe Biden, the White House said in a statement.
After overflying the ravaged Port-au-Prince in a US Army helicopter, the two women landed in the grounds of the National Palace, where they were greeted by Haitian President Rene Preval and First Lady Elisabeth Preval.
Obama, wearing grey slacks, and a blue shirt with black flat shoes, hugged the Haitian first lady with whom she had a half-hour meeting -- along with Jill Biden and President Preval -- inside the damaged presidential palace.
Scores of US military staff and Haitian police have been deployed around the presidential palace, which for generations has been a postcard symbol of Haiti, and now sits in ruins.
They then visited a child care facility, where dozens of children sang as a smiling US first lady danced with them. Dozens of children greeted the women, singing "welcome" in English.
Another group of children sang a song in Creole, "We are glad to see you... We say let's be happy."
Obama and Biden were also due to tour a hospital in the capital of what already was the Americas' poorest country before the January 12 earthquake claimed 220,000 lives and has left 1.3 million people homeless.
The White House said the first lady's visit aims to reaffirm US commitment to continuing to help Haiti in its recovery.
"First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden are visiting Haiti to underscore to the Haitian people and the Haitian government the enduring US commitment to help Haiti recover and rebuild," the White House said.
The visit was especially important "as we enter the rainy and hurricane seasons, and to thank the women and men across the whole of the US government for their extraordinary efforts in Haiti during the past three months."
Rainy season to spark 'minor disasters' for Haiti: ICRC
The White House added that the two women "will also reach out to the UN and international relief communities in recognition of the truly global effort under way to help Haiti."
Haiti is still struggling to rebuild after the 7.0-magnitude quake struck the country, leveling much of the capital Port-au-Prince and many nearby towns.
Hundreds of thousands of Haitians are still living in miserable conditions in makeshift camps which have sprung up around the capital, despite a massive international aid effort.
The United States deployed about 20,000 troops in the days following the quake and Washington has sent in dozens of staff with USAID. Almost 1,000 NGOs are on the ground in Haiti, according to USAID.
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