VOA常速英语2017--美国呼吁为黎巴嫩排雷（在线收听）

Lebanon has the highest proportion of cultivable land in the Arab world. Indeed, the region has a long history of agricultural activity. There is evidence that as far back as 8,000 years ago, people living in today's Lebanon cultivated fruit trees, and around 5,000 years ago, were some of the first to produce wine.

黎巴嫩是阿拉伯世界里可耕种土地比例最高的国家。这里有悠久的农事历史。有证据表明，早在8千年前，生活在黎巴嫩的人就开始种植果树；而大约5千年前，黎巴嫩人也是最早生产酒的。

Agriculture is still an important sector of Lebanon's economy. But for decades now, much arable land there has been inaccessible due to heavy contamination with landmines and unexploded ordnance.

农业依然是黎巴嫩经济的重要组成部分。但几十年来，很多原本可耕种的土地由于地雷和未燃爆军火的严重污染已经无法耕种。

Between 1975 and 1990, Lebanon was wracked by a civil war that also saw 12 years of occupation of portions of its territory by its southern neighbor, Israel. Since 1975, landmines and unexploded ordnance have killed more than 900 people and injured thousands. People in many parts of Lebanon face daily dangers from these deadly hazards, wrote Assistant Program Manager for the Middle East in the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Patrick Shea, in a recent blog post.

1975年至1990年间，黎巴嫩因一场内战而支离破碎，这场内战导致黎巴嫩有12年的时间被其南方的邻国以色列占领。自1975年起，因地雷和未燃爆军火而受伤甚至丧命的人达到数千以上。黎巴嫩很多地区的人每天都面临着这些致命威胁所带来的危险，美国国务院外交军事事务局销毁武器办公室(The Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement)负责中东事务的项目经理助理帕特里克在最近发布的一则微博中如是写道。

The United States has long been committed to promoting peace and security in Lebanon and has invested more than 60 million dollars in assistance to safely clear unexploded munitions, save lives through risk education and outreach, and support the Lebanese Mine Action Center to receive advanced training.

很长时间以来，美国一直致力于促进黎巴嫩的和平与安全，并投入了6千多万美元，协助黎巴嫩安全清除未燃爆武器，通过风险教育与外联活动来挽救生命，支持黎巴嫩排雷行动中心接受高级培训。

By supporting the work of implementing partners like Mines Advisory Group, and coordinating with other donors through mechanisms such as the Mine Action Support Group, writes Mr. Shea, the United States is not only making a difference in the lives of ordinary Lebanese but is contributing to international security by removing explosive material that could fall into the hands of extremists or terrorists.

通过支持合作伙伴（排雷咨询组）工作的执行，并通过与其他捐献方在排雷行动支持小组等机制下的配合，帕特里克写道，美国不仅让黎巴嫩百姓的生活大有不同，也通过移除爆炸性材料而为国际安全做出了贡献，否则这些爆炸性材料可能落入极端分子或恐怖分子之手。