“This pledge is one that I made at the beginning of this crisis, and I intend for America to keep our pledge. America will be your partner in the recovery and reconstruction effort,” Obama added.

WASHINGTON, CMC – United States President Barack Obama has sought to reassure Haiti that his government remains fully committed to the French-speaking Caribbean country, even as the US gradually pulls out some troops deployed in the wake of the January 12 devastating earthquake.

“As President Préval and I discussed, the situation on the ground remains dire, and people should be under no illusions that the crisis is over,” Obama told a White House press briefing on Wednesday.

He was flanked by Haitian President Rene Préval, who was visiting the US for the first time since the earthquake struck.

“Many Haitians are still in need, desperate need in some cases, of shelter and food and medicine.  And with the spring rains approaching, those needs will only grow.  The challenge now is to prevent a second disaster,” he added.

“And that’s why, at this very moment, thousands of Americans, both civilian and military, remain on the scene at the invitation of the Haitian government.  And that’s why, even as the US military responsibly hands off relief functions to our Haitian and international partners, America’s commitment to Haiti’s recovery and reconstruction must endure and will endure,” Obama said.

“This pledge is one that I made at the beginning of this crisis, and I intend for America to keep our pledge.  America will be your partner in the recovery and reconstruction effort,” he added.

Over the past few weeks, the US has cut the number of troops from 20,000 to about 6,000 on the ground and another 3,000 at sea.

The USS Comfort – a naval hospital ship, which arrived days after the catastrophic earthquake, and treated thousands of Haitians – headed to Baltimore, Maryland, on Tuesday, ending its role in Operation Unified Response-Haiti.

“Our mission was tied to our ability to facilitate humanitarian aid and disaster relief,” US Navy Public Affairs Officer Colonel Billy J. Buckner told reporters.

“We’re adjusting our forces so that we can continue to do that – helping to secure sites for shelter and food distribution,” he added. “So far the situation has been calm and stable.”

Last week’s downpours in Haiti increased concern that time is running out for the estimated one million homeless to get shelter before the rainy season begins in April.

In addition, many Haitians have expressed concern that the withdrawal of American troops shows a waning interest in helping Haiti, and that their absence will leave people vulnerable to gangs and street violence.

But acting UN mission chief in Haiti, Edmond Mulet, said there will be no security vacuum, as US troops pull out.

He told reporters in New York that the UN peacekeeping force in Haiti, known by the French acronym, MINUSTAH, force has a “mandate to provide security” in the impoverished country.

Mulet said he was encouraged by the Security Council’s decision to increase troop strength in Haiti by 3,500 to 12,651.

“With the additional troops, I think we’ll be able to provide the necessary stability and security in Haiti,” he said.