Asia-Pacific

Michelle Obama visits earthquake-ravaged Haiti

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-04-14 06:50
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PORT-AU-PRINCE - US first lady Michelle Obama told Haitians on Tuesday that her country and the world would help them rebuild from the catastrophic January 12 earthquake in the poor Caribbean nation.

Michelle Obama visits earthquake-ravaged Haiti
First lady Michelle Obama, center, Haiti's first lady Elisabeth Debrosse, right, and Vice President Joseph Biden's wife, Jill Biden, greet children in Port-au-Prince, Tuesday, April 13, 2010. Michelle Obama made a surprise visit to the devastated Haitian capital, joining a long list of political figures and celebrities who have toured the country and affirmed international support for reconstruction. [Agencies] 

Making an unannounced visit to Haiti at the start of her first solo international trip as first lady, Obama described her drive through a crowded quake survivors' camp, and her meeting with child victims as "deeply moving".

Accompanied by Jill Biden, the wife of US Vice President Joe Biden, she earlier flew over the wrecked Haitian capital Port-au-Prince in a US Army helicopter and said she was struck by the "powerful" scenes of devastation.

The 46-year-old wife of President Barack Obama was to start a two-day visit to Mexico later on Tuesday.

"Little by little, Haiti will move forward, little by little, Haiti will rebuild," Michelle Obama said.