On the recordJanuary 13, 2014
On the fourth anniversary of the worst natural disaster in recent history, the earthquake in Haiti of 2010, I rise to honor those affected and salute the strength and resilience of the Haitian people. The earthquake in January 2010 claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and destroyed the livelihoods of nearly 3 million more people. Take a moment to contemplate the enormity of this calamity: More than three-quarters of the schools in the capital were rendered useless, leaving young Haitians with little opportunity to learn and no safe space to spend their time; A quarter of the civil servants in Port-au-Prince were killed, resulting in an overwhelming need for administrative service providers and security personnel. Thanks to the resolve and hard work of the Haitian people, as well as effective assistance from the Obama administration and our international partners, Haiti has started on the process of recovery. The fourth anniversary of Haiti's tragedy provides an opportunity to honor those who lost their lives and recognize the progress that has been achieved. It is also a time to reaffirm our commitment to help Haiti rebound, by insisting on accountability and transparency. ____________________
