The U.N.'s humanitarian chief says he is disappointed with the government in Burma because it has not moved faster to allow in international aid workers and relief supplies to the cyclone-devastated country.
联合国救援机构的负责人表示，他对缅甸政府感到失望，因为缅甸政府未能更快地让国际救援人员和救援物资进入这个遭受热带风暴侵袭的国家。
John Holmes told reporters Thursday that the humanitarian situation in Burma is "increasingly desperate", and that an even worse disaster could unfold if aid agencies cannot get urgently needed aid in. He said he is disappointed the Burmese authorities are not moving to let foreign aid workers and supplies in quickly.
联合国负责人道主义事务的副秘书长兼紧急救灾协调员约翰.霍尔姆斯星期四告诉记者，缅甸的情况越来越危急，如果救援机构不能把急需的救援物资送入，更严重的灾难将会出现。霍尔姆斯还说，他对缅甸当局不采取行动，确保外国救援人员和救援物资迅速进入缅甸感到失望。
"The frustrations have been growing that this humanitarian response is being held back because of difficulties of access in different ways," he said.
霍尔姆斯说，“由于在不同的方面都遇到重重困难，使得为缅甸提供人道救援的行动受到拦阻，因此人们的失望也与日俱增。”
He said there has only been limited progress since Wednesday. Four World Food Program flights have landed in Burma, and the Red Cross is also having some success in getting relief into the tightly controlled country.
霍尔姆斯说，星期三以来，救援行动只取得了有限的进展。他提到，世界粮食计划署的四架飞机已经抵达缅甸，红十字会的救援物资也终于进入这个戒备森严的国家。
But Holmes said that a U.N. disaster coordination team comprised of four Asian nationals that had clearance to enter Burma - which is also known as Myanmar - had met with mixed success. Two of the team members were allowed in, but two were turned away. He said the United Nations is still trying to find out why. A fifth team member who is not Asian and requires a visa, is still awaiting clearance.
但是，霍尔姆斯透露，一个包括四名亚洲人的联合国救灾协调小组虽然得到了入境许可，但是结果却是成败参半，两名救援人员获准入境，另外两名却被拒绝入境。霍尔姆斯还说，联合国仍在设法查明其中的原因。第五名小组成员不是亚洲人，正在申请签证，等待入境许可。
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, said the United States is shocked by the Burmese government's slow response to allowing in international assistance.
美国驻联合国大使哈利勒扎德表示，美国对缅甸政府在允许国际救援入境方面反应迟缓感到震惊。
"We are outraged by the slowness of the response of the government of Burma to welcome and accept assistance," he said. "It is clear that the government's ability to deal with the situation, which is catastrophic, is limited. And a government has responsibility to protect its own people, to provide for its people. And since it is not able to, you would expect the government to welcome assistance from others."
哈利勒扎德说：“我们对缅甸政府在接受国际援助方面反应如此缓慢感到愤怒。很明显，这个政府在应付灾害方面的能力非常有限。一个政府有义务保护和供养本国的人民。既然它自己没有这个能力，那么人们就会期望它至少要对来自其他人的援助持欢迎态度。”
Burmese officials estimate that Saturday's cyclone killed at least 23,000 people. Some 42,000 more are missing. But the top U.S. diplomat in Burma said Thursday that the death toll could exceed 100,000.
缅甸官员估计，上星期六发生的强热带风暴，导致至少2万3千人丧生，大约4万2千人下落不明。但是，在缅甸的一位美国高级外交官星期四说，死亡数字可能超过10万人。
U.N. officials say more than a million more have been left homeless.
联合国官员表示，还有一百多万人流离失所。
The United Nations plans to launch a flash appeal for Burma Friday. U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes also says he is considering traveling to the cyclone-devastated country himself.
联合国计划在星期五发出紧急援助呼吁。联合国负责人道主义事务的副秘书长兼紧急救灾协调员约翰.霍尔姆斯表示，他正在考虑亲自视察这个遭到强热带风暴侵袭的国家。 |