Obama, Bush and Clinton join forces on Haiti
Barack Obama unveils predecessors George Bush and Bill Clinton as men to lead US fundraising efforts for Haiti earthquake
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By Tom Powell. |  |
Saturday, 16, Jan 2010 04:59
By Matthew Champion.
Barack Obama has unveiled his predecessors as US president George Bush and Bill Clinton as the men to lead US fundraising efforts for the survivors of the Haiti earthquake.
The 44th, 43rd and 42nd presidents addressed journalists together in the White House Rose Garden today to underline American support following Tuesday's devastating quake.
Hundreds of thousands of people are feared dead, with international aid efforts hampered by an almost complete failure of the poorest country in the western hemisphere's infrastructure.
President Obama has already pledged the largest US relief effort in history for what the United Nations has termed the worst disaster it has ever had to deal with.
Unveiling the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, the two former presidents said in a joint statement their immediate priority was to "save lives".
"The critical needs in Haiti are great, but they are also simple: food, water, shelter, and first-aid supplies," President Bush, making his first visit to the White House since January 20th last year for Mr Obama's inauguration, and President Clinton said.
"The best way concerned citizens can help is to donate funds that will go directly to supplying these material needs."