Michelle Obama visits quake-ravaged Haiti
Michelle Obama, center, greets Haitian Prime Minister Rene Preval during a surprise visit to Haiti with Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden. (April 13, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — First Lady Michelle Obama is making her first visit to earthquake-ravaged Haiti.
Obama took a helicopter tour Tuesday of the Haitian capital, where hundreds of thousands of people are still homeless following the Jan. 12 quake.
The first lady was traveling with Vice President Joe Biden’s wife, Jill.
President Barack Obama’s administration says the purpose of the visit is to underscore U.S. commitment to the Haitian recovery effort.
The U.S. has provided nearly $1 billion in humanitarian assistance to Haiti and pledged another $1 billion.
Haiti’s government says an estimated 230,000 people were killed in the earthquake.
