Obama warns situation in Haiti remains "dire" (Roundup)

Mar 10, 2010, 17:55 GMT

Washington - US President Barack Obama warned Wednesday that the situation in Haiti remains 'dire' and called on the world to not turn away from the earthquake devastated nation.

'The situation on the ground remains dire, and people should be under no illusions that the crisis is over,' Obama said after meeting with Haitian President Rene Preval at the White House.

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake shattered the impoverished Caribbean country on January 12, killing more than 220,000 people and flattening the capital Port-au-Prince.

There is still a 'desperate need' for food, medicine and shelter and with the spring rainy season on the way the situation could grow worse, Obama said.

'The challenge now is to prevent a second disaster,' he said.

The United States and United Nations led the relief effort in the aftermath of the earthquake along with the support of the European Union and other nations and non-government organizations.

Preval praised the international effort in his country but also asked for more contributions, namely at the UN-hosted March 31 donor's conference in New York.

He also said that the earthquakes that have since struck in Chile and Turkey and in other places shows the world needs to be better prepared to respond. What happened in Haiti is a 'lesson for all of mankind,' he said.

Preval has proposed establishing an international force modelled after the UN peacekeeping force known as the blue helmets. A mission of the 'red helmets' would be to intervene in major disaster zones. He also said there should be an international trust fund established so aid can more quickly be provided to countries struck by a natural disaster.