Copy of message received:
--------------------------------------

Statement from Senator Obama:

CHICAGO, IL – Senator Barack Obama issued the following
statement on the

need for humanitarian assistance to Haiti following devastating
storms:

“My thoughts and prayers are with the hundreds of thousands
of Haitians

struggling to survive the floods and devastation caused by the
hurricanes and

tropical storms of the past six weeks, and I extend my deepest
sympathies to

those affected by the loss of more than 500 lives.

“Time is of the essence in helping Haiti cope with this
humanitarian

crisis and begin to recover. Tens of thousands of Haitians have
been displaced

and left without shelter, Haiti ’s already struggling
agricultural sector has

been devastated – and hurricane season is not yet over.

“The Haitian-American community is doing its part by
supporting family

and friends in Haiti in their time of need. Now the United
States government

and the international community must intensify relief efforts to
bring food,

water and shelter to the storm victims.

“I welcome the dispatch of $100,000 in emergency assistance
by USAID and

the promise of 50 tons of relief supplies, as well as the
deployment of U.S.

Coast Guard personnel and material and the pending arrival of
the USS Kearsage

to help alleviate the immediate crisis in Gonaives. But there’s
more we can

do.

“The ships, helicopters and air cargo capacity of the U.S.
Southern

Command should be directed to provide Haiti the logistical
support our Armed

Forces so ably provide around the world in times of humanitarian
crisis.

“I also urge the United States to work in partnership with
President Rene

Preval and the new Haitian government under the leadership of
Prime Minister

Michele Pierre-Louis, and with key international actors (the
United Nations

Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the Inter-American Development
Bank, the World

Bank, the Organization of American States, and crucial bilateral
donors) to

immediately assemble a task force on reconstruction and recovery
to begin work

as soon as the storms pass.

“Together, we can help Haiti recover from this terrible
series of storms

and renew efforts to bring hope and opportunity to the people of
Haiti.”

Source: barackobama.com