Thread: Obama Promises All-Out Relief Effort in Haiti

Dr. Rajih Shah, named coordinator of American relief efforts to Haiti, is a financial services globalist with a M.D. degree who formerly served as "Chief Scientist" for the USDA. Although he was born and raised in urban Detroit, MI, and has no background in agriculture, Shah continues to be touted as an expert in this field. No wonder scientific standards have plummeted!

Obama Promises All-Out Relief Effort in Haiti

Updated: 2 hours 50 minutes ago
Juile Pace and Matthew Lee
AP

WASHINGTON (Jan. 13) -- President Barack Obama promised an all-out rescue and humanitarian effort Wednesday to help Haiti overcome a "cruel and incomprehensible" tragedy, the ruinous earthquake that ravaged the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

The president said the relief effort is gearing up even as the U.S. government works to account for Americans who were on the island nation when the disaster struck late Tuesday afternoon.

Obama also said he has named U.S. Agency for International Development administrator Rajiv Shah to coordinate American efforts, and the president called upon all nations to join in helping stricken Haitians.

Obama spoke Wednesday in the White House Diplomatic Reception Room.

The president, who has been involved in ensuring a quick response since Tuesday night, said one of the government's top priorities is to quickly locate U.S. Embassy employees and their families, as well as all other American citizens living and working in Haiti. He urged Americans trying to locate family members to contact the State Department at 1-888-407-4747.

Obama sought to show a swift and united disaster response with the United States as an assertive leader, but he said the effort must be an international one.

"We are reminded of the common humanity that we all share," Obama said, with Vice President Joe Biden at his side during the brief statement.

The president outlined a series of steps to help the Haitian people and said the U.S. commitment to its hemispheric neighbor will be unwavering.

"We have to be there for them in their hour of need," the president said.

The White House said Obama had spoken with Shah shortly before making the statement and "underscored that he expects an aggressive and highly coordinated relief effort."

Obama encouraged Americans who want to help to go to www.whitehouse.gov to find options for contributing to the aid effort.

http://www.sphere.com/world/article/oba ... i/19314493

USAID
From the American People

This is
USAID

Biography of Dr. Rajiv Shah
Administrator

Dr. Rajiv Shah was sworn in as the 16th Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on December 31, 2009. USAID, a U.S. Government agency, has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for almost 50 years.

Previously, Dr. Shah served as Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics and as CHIEF SCIENTIST at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he was responsible for safe, sustainable, competitive U.S. food and fiber system, as well as strong communities, families, and youth through integrated research, analysis, and education. At USDA, he launched the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a new scientific institute that elevated the status and funding of agricultural research to be more in line with other major scientific groups. He also produced innovative initiatives in bioenergy, climate, global food security, childhood obesity, and food safety.

Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Shah served as director of Agricultural Development in the Global Development Program at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In his seven years with the Gates Foundation, Shah served as the Foundation's director of Strategic Opportunities and as deputy director of policy and finance for the Global Health Program. In these roles, he helped develop and launch the foundation's Global Development Program, and helped create both the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, and the International Finance Facility for Immunization-an effort that raised more than $5 billion for child immunization.

Prior to joining the Gates Foundation in 2001, Shah was the health care policy advisor on the Gore 2000 presidential campaign and a member of Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell's transition committee on health. He is the co-founder of Health Systems Analytics and Project IMPACT for South Asian Americans. In addition, he has served as a policy aide in the British Parliament and worked at the World Health Organization.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Shah earned his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School and his Master of Science in health economics at the Wharton School of Business. He has attended the London School of Economics, is a graduate of the University of Michigan, and has published articles on health policy and global development. Shah previously served on the boards of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the Seattle Public Library, and the Seattle Community College District. In 2007, he was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

Dr. Shah is married with two children. He lives in Washington, D.C.

http://www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/bios/bio_rshah.html

i challenge everyone here to make a small donation to the Red Cross or any other charity so that we can help the people of haiti.


especially since 80 percent of the people there live on under TWO DOLLARS A DAY

From what I heard earlier on MSNBC, we will be giving temporary protected status to all Haitians, including the ones that are due to be deported. This is also the time of year when many migrate to FL to work the fields, mostly the sugar fields, so we can expect a flood to Little Haiti in Miami.
I have heard that Puerto Rico, Mexico, Venezuela, France, Britain, China and a few more are also sending aid, but not a word that any will accept refugees from Haiti.
I already made my donation to Red Cross, and will be calling local churches to see if anyone is putting together packages of things like clothes and toiletries or food items.

I also donated to the Red Cross for the Haitin disaster. God knows, we've had a few floods where the Red Cross was a tremendous help. I pray for the people of Haiti. Granting them TPS would be a travesty, since they are needed to rebuild Haiti. Humanitarian aid does not include relocation to another country, it means helping them rebuild so they can STAY in their own homes.