The United States is pledging more than $3 million to help Burma recover from Saturday's cyclone that killed more than 22,000 people. U.S. President George Bush says more help could be provided if Burma's military rulers allow American relief officials into the country to assess the situation. International Red Cross says revised death toll of nearly 22,500 makes Cyclone Nargis deadliest storm since 1991.
美国为帮助缅甸从灾难中恢复承诺提供300多万美元。上星期六缅甸遭受热带风暴袭击，导致2万2千多人死亡。美国总统布什说，如果缅甸军政府允许美国救援官员进入灾区评估那里的局势，美国可能会向缅甸提供更多的帮助。
The new assistance raises U.S. contributions to Burmese relief efforts to $3.25 million. President Bush says he wants to do even more.
美国对缅甸救灾工作提供的新援助已经增加到325万美元。布什总统说，他还想再增加援助。
"We are prepared to move U.S. Navy assets to help find those who have lost their lives, to help find the missing, and to help stabilize the situation," he said. "But in order to do so, the military junta must allow our disaster assessment teams into the country. So our message is to the military rulers: Let the United States come and help you help the people."
布什总统说：“我们准备动用美国海军装备来帮助找到那些不幸丧生的人，帮助找到失踪的人，帮助稳定那里的局势。但是为了能够这样做，缅甸军政府必须允许我们的灾难评估小组进入缅甸。因此我们要对缅甸军政府说，让美国来协助你们帮助你们的人民。”
The U.S. State Department says it has been told that an American assessment team will not be allowed inside Burma. White House Spokeswoman Dana Perino says U.S. aid is not conditional on that assessment team and the United States will continue to help through the United Nations if the team is blocked.
美国国务院说，他们被告知，美国的评估小组将不准进入缅甸。白宫发言人佩里诺说，美国的援助并非要取决于评估小组的评估，如果评估小组受阻，美国将继续通过联合国提供帮助。
Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell says there are several Navy ships in the area that could help, including the USS Essex which has landing craft, helicopters, and six operating rooms with medical facilities for 600 patients at a time.
五角大楼的新闻发言人莫雷尔说，这个地区的海域有几艘能提供帮助的美国军舰，包括具备起降飞机和直升机能力的埃塞克斯号航空母舰，舰上有六个医疗设备齐全的手术室，能同时接纳600个病人。
"We're now working with the State Department and with U.S. Pacific Command to at least begin the planning for a possible humanitarian assistance [mission]," he said. "But that's all we can do at this point is to plan because we have not received a request from the Burmese government."
莫雷尔说：“我们现在正同美国国务院和美军太平洋司令部一起着手开始为可能的人道主义救援使命做准备。但我们目前所能做的就是计划，因为我们还没有接到缅甸政府的请求。”
While welcoming outside assistance, Burma's military rulers have told aid agencies that relief workers will still need visas.
缅甸军人统治者虽然欢迎外界的援助，但是告诉救援机构，救援人员仍然需要签证。
The United Nations is asking Burma to relax those requirements so assistance can quickly reach those needing shelter, food, and medical assistance. Officials say about 41,000 people are missing, and the toll is expected to rise as information comes in from hard-to-reach places.
联合国要求缅甸放松这些要求，以便援助能迅速送到需要住处、食品和治疗的人们那里。有关官员说，大约4万1千人失踪，而且随着消息从难以进入地区的不断传来，失踪的人数会上升。
In addition to U.S. assistance offers, India has dispatched two naval ships with food, tents, blankets and medicine, and the European Union is pledging $3 million in humanitarian aid. Chinese President Hu Jintao is promising $1 million cash and relief supplies.
除了美国提供的援助以外，印度已经派出两艘装载食品、帐篷、毯子和药品海军舰艇，欧盟也承诺要提供300万美元的人道主义援助。中国国家主席胡锦涛承诺提供100万美元援助资金和救灾物品。
Cyclone Nargis hit at a crucial time for Burma's military-led government, which was scheduled to hold a nationwide referendum on a new constitution this coming Saturday in hopes of dampening international criticism of its crackdown on anti-government protesters last year.
纳尔吉斯热带风暴重创缅甸的时候，军政府领导的缅甸正处在一个关键时刻。缅甸原定在这个星期六举行一次新宪法的全国公投。缅甸军政府希望这次全国公投将能缓解国际社会对缅甸军政府去年镇压反政府抗议者的批评。
Burma's rulers say the referendum will lead to democratic elections in 2010. Political opponents say the new charter will reinforce military control.
缅甸执政者说，这次公投将会导致2010年进行民主选举。政治反对派说，新宪法将强化军队的掌控。
President Bush spoke from the Oval Office Tuesday after signing legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Burmese democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi.
星期二，布什总统在椭圆形办公室签署议案，授予缅甸民主活动家昂山素季国会金质奖章之后说：
"This is a fitting tribute to a courageous woman who speaks for freedom for all the people of Burma, and who speaks in such a way that she is a powerful voice in contrast to the junta that currently rules the country," he said.
“一位勇敢的妇女为缅甸所有人的自由而呐喊，跟目前统治缅甸的军政府相比，她的呼声更为强大。她获此殊荣，名至如归。”
Asked if the recognition for Burma's detained opposition leader might complicate efforts to work with the military in providing aid, spokeswoman Perino says U.S. support for Aung San Suu Kyi has been clear for many years, and that position will not change. She says that does not affect Washington's promise to help those affected by the cyclone.
有记者问，表彰缅甸被囚禁的反政府领袖是否会使美国在提供援助上的努力同缅甸军政府的关系变得复杂，白宫发言人佩里诺说，美国多年来都明确表示支持昂山素季，这个立场并没有改变。她说，这并不会影响华盛顿有关帮助热带风暴灾民的承诺。 |