VOA常速英语2017--联合国称南苏丹爆发饥荒（在线收听）

On February 20th, the United Nations declared a famine in parts of South Sudan. “This crisis is man-made, the direct consequence of a conflict prolonged by South Sudanese leaders who are unwilling to put aside political ambitions for the good of their people,” said State Department Acting Spokesperson Mark Toner.

2月20日，联合国宣布南苏丹部分地区出现饥荒。“这场危机是人祸，是南苏丹领导人不愿为人民福祉而放弃其政治野心，执意延长冲突的直接后果，”美国国务院代理发言人马克说。

South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in early July 2011. Peace lasted less than 18 months. In December 2013, a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar erupted into civil war. A peace accord signed in 2015 has failed to stop the violence, and the continued fighting led to a collapsing economy and wildly escalating food prices. Food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition have all grown steadily worse since the conflict began.

南苏丹是2011年7月初获得独立的。但和平只持续了不到18个月。2013年12月，南苏丹总统基尔(Salva Kiir)与副总统马查尔(Riek Machar)展开了权力之争，随后演变为内战。2015年签订的和平协定没能停止暴力形势，持续的战争导致经济崩塌，物价猛涨。粮食不足、饥饿、营养不良自从冲突爆发以来就一直每况日下。

Today, some 100,000 South Sudanese are on the verge of starvation and 7.5 million people, more than half the country's population, will require humanitarian assistance this year.

如今，有近10万名南苏丹人民在饥饿的边缘徘徊，而占南苏丹人口一半以上的750万人今年将需要人道主义救援。

“The United States is gravely concerned by the February 20 declaration of famine in parts of South Sudan and by the significant scale of humanitarian need throughout the country,” said Acting Spokesperson Toner. “We call on President Kiir to expeditiously make good on his promise that humanitarian and developmental organizations will have unimpeded access to populations in need across the country,” he said.

“美国极度担心2月20日联合国关于南苏丹部分地区出现饥荒的消息，担心南苏丹即将出现的对人道主义援助的大规模需求，”代理发言人特纳说。“我们呼吁总统基尔迅速兑现其承诺，保证人道主义发展组织可以不受阻碍地抵达南苏丹境内需要救助的人身边，”特纳说。

“Humanitarian actors are working tirelessly to reach those in need. All parties to the conflict must stop impeding relief efforts and allow food and other essential assistance to reach those who need it the most.

“人道主义工作人员正在不懈努力地赶往有需要的人身边。交战各方必须停止阻碍救援工作，让粮食和其他必要的救济能够送抵最有需要的人身边。”

“The United States remains the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance to South Sudan, having provided more than 2.1 billion dollars since 2014. Our assistance, including more than 600,000 metric tons of urgently needed food assistance, has saved lives and helped avert famine for three consecutive years.

“美国依然是南苏丹人道主义援助的最大捐献国，自2014年来以提供了21亿多美元。我们的援助包括提供60万公吨急需的粮食援助，拯救了无数生命，并助力扭转了持续了3年的饥荒情况。”

“We call on donors and other members of the international community to provide timely additional humanitarian assistance to save lives and support the people of South Sudan.”

“我们呼吁已捐献国和国际社会的其他成员国提供其他及时的人道主义援助，拯救生命，扶持南苏丹人民。”