Pakistani officials say all money donated for flood assistance will go to help the victims. The officials assure international donors none of the funds meant to provide aid to millions of desperate people will fall into the wrong hands.
巴基斯坦官员说，所有捐助洪灾灾民的款项将用来帮助灾民。他们向国际捐助者保证，向几百万处于困境的灾民所提供的任何资金都不会挪作他用。
International aid agencies are struggling to bring relief to many of the 20 million people affected by the catastrophic floods that hit Pakistan about three weeks ago.
国际救援组织正在奋力向大约三个星期前遭洪水袭击的两千万灾民中的许多人提供救援物资。
Problems
The relief effort is being hampered by logistical problems, including the ability to reach many of the victims. The United Nations has now received more than half of the $460 million appeal it issued last week to pay for humanitarian operations over the next three months. Fifty-four percent of the target goal has been reached according to U.N. humanitarian spokesman Maurizio Giuliano.
救援努力受到了后勤问题的阻碍，其中包括难以抵达许多灾民所在的地点。联合国上星期呼吁筹集4亿6千万美元，用于今后3个月的人道主义救援行动，迄今已经收到这个数目的一半以上。联合国人道救援部门发言人朱利亚诺说，筹款目标已经实现了百分之54。
However, media reports say Pakistan is still having difficulty attracting funds because international donors fear the money will end up in the wrong hands, a charge vehemently denied by Pakistani officials.
但是有新闻报导说，巴基斯坦仍然难以吸引援助资金，因为国际捐助者担心援助款项会落到不应当得到的人手中。巴基斯坦官员断然驳斥了这中说法。
Guarantees
Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Zamir Akram, says his government is working with International and United Nations agencies to bring relief to the Pakistani flood victims.
巴基斯坦驻联合国日内瓦办事处大使阿克拉姆说，巴基斯坦政府正与国际以及联合国机构协作，向洪水灾民提供救援。
"So, unless somebody suspects the U.N. itself and suspects the government of Pakistan and its officials, I can guarantee that this money is going to go to the purposes it is meant for," he said.
阿克兰说：“所以除非有人怀疑联合国，怀疑巴基斯坦政府及其官员，否则我能保证这笔资金将专款专用。”
"This is a very transparent exercise. The U.N., as I say, is deeply involved. Some of our close friends and partners are closely involved - the United States, China - many other countries, the United Kingdom. So, this is a joint effort and therefore the guarantee is that, it is a transparent effort and it is open to everybody to see," he added.
“这是一个非常透明的行动。如我所言，联合国深入地参与了这项工作。直接参与救援工作的还有我们的一些亲密朋友和伙伴，例如美国和中国，还有英国等许多国家。所以这是共同的努力，因此能保证是一项所有人都可以看到的透明的行动。”
Taliban
Ambassador Akram also refutes suggestions that the Taliban and other extremist religious groups are winning the hearts and minds of the people through their charitable work.
阿克兰大使还驳斥了有关塔利班和其它极端宗教组织通过慈善工作赢得民心的说法。
"I do not see how that has affected public opinion and built up support for them. I think this, what you are referring to, is an unnecessary exaggeration, which, unfortunately, is diverting attention away from the real issues. The real issue is helping the people," he said.
他说：“我不认为这影响了民意，增加了民众对他们的支持。我认为这一点是不必要的夸大其辞。很遗憾，这种说法把人们的注意力从真正的问题上转移开来。真正的问题是帮助人民。”
Needs
And, the needs are vast. Of the estimated 20 million people affected by the flooding, the government says more than 15 million are seriously affected. Around 1,600 people reportedly have been killed and more than 2,000 injured.
灾民的需求是巨大的。巴基斯坦政府说，在估计的2000万洪水灾民中，有1500多万人受到严重影响。据报导，洪水导致1600人死亡，2000多人受伤。
The United Nations says nearly 900,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed and more than 650,000 people are without basic shelter. It says more than 200 health facilities have been damaged or destroyed causing problems for people seeking medical assistance.
联合国说，近90万幢房屋受损或完全被摧毁，超过65万人没有基本的栖身之处，200多处卫生设施受损或完全损毁，为寻求医疗援助的人带来困难。
About 80 percent of the flood-affected population depends on agriculture for its livelihood. The United Nations reports more than 3.2 million hectares of standing crops have been damaged or lost.
大约80%受洪水影响的民众以务农为生。联合国报告说，320多万公顷的农作物遭到破坏或颗粒无收。
As though things were not difficult enough, new flood warnings have been issued in some parts of Pakistan.
更糟糕的是，巴基斯坦一些地区发布了新的洪水预警。 |