President Obama's remarks on the earthquake in Haiti
在加勒比島國(guó)海地本月12日發(fā)生強(qiáng)烈地震后,國(guó)際社會(huì)紛紛伸出援手,表示將向海地提供人道主義援助。美國(guó)總統(tǒng)奧巴馬13日就海地遭遇強(qiáng)震發(fā)表講話,承諾美國(guó)將迅速積極反應(yīng),全力幫助海地救災(zāi)。以下是他講話的全文。
Here are President Obama’s remarks Wednesday morning on the earthquake in Haiti and rescue efforts, as released by the White House.
(Source: youku.com)
Good morning, everybody. This morning I want to extend to the people of Haiti the deep condolences and unwavering support of the American people following yesterday’s terrible earthquake.
We are just now beginning to learn the extent of the devastation, but the reports and images that we’ve seen of collapsed hospitals, crumbled homes, and men and women carrying their injured neighbors through the streets are truly heart-wrenching. Indeed, for a country and a people who are no strangers to hardship and suffering, this tragedy seems especially cruel and incomprehensible. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the many Haitian-Americans around our country who do not yet know the fate of their families and loved ones back home.
I have directed my administration to respond with a swift, coordinated, and aggressive effort to save lives. The people of Haiti will have the full support of the United States in the urgent effort to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble, and to deliver the humanitarian relief — the food, water and medicine — that Haitians will need in the coming days. In that effort, our government, especially USAID and the Departments of State and Defense, are working closely together and with our partners in Haiti, the region, and around the world.
Right now our efforts are focused on several urgent priorities. First, we’re working quickly to account for U.S. embassy personnel and their families in Port-au-Prince, as well as the many American citizens who live and work in Haiti. Americans trying to locate family members in Haiti are encouraged to contact the State Department at (888) 407-4747. I’m going to repeat that — (888) 407-4747.
Second, we’ve mobilized resources to help rescue efforts. Military overflights have assessed the damage, and by early afternoon our civilian disaster assistance team are beginning to arrive. Search-and-rescue teams from Florida, Virginia and California will arrive throughout today and tomorrow, and more rescue and medical equipment and emergency personnel are being prepared.
Because in disasters such as this the first hours and days are absolutely critical to saving lives and avoiding even greater tragedy, I have directed my teams to be as forward-leaning as possible in getting the help on the ground and coordinating with our international partners as well.
Third, given the many different resources that are needed, we are taking steps to ensure that our government acts in a unified way. My national security team has led an interagency effort overnight. And to ensure that we coordinate our effort, going forward, I’ve designated the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Dr. Rajiv Shah, to be our government’s unified disaster coordinator.
Now, this rescue and recovery effort will be complex and challenging. As we move resources into Haiti, we will be working closely with partners on the ground, including the many N.G.O.’s from Haiti and across Haiti, the United Nations Stabilization Mission, which appears to have suffered its own losses, and our partners in the region and around the world. This must truly be an international effort.
Finally, let me just say that this is a time when we are reminded of the common humanity that we all share. With just a few hundred miles of ocean between us and a long history that binds us together, Haitians are neighbors of the Americas and here at home. So we have to be there for them in their hour of need.
Despite the fact that we are experiencing tough times here at home, I would encourage those Americans who want to support the urgent humanitarian efforts to go to whitehouse.gov where you can learn how to contribute. We must be prepared for difficult hours and days ahead as we learn about the scope of the tragedy. We will keep the victims and their families in our prayers. We will be resolute in our response, and I pledge to the people of Haiti that you will have a friend and partner in the United States of America today and going forward.
May God bless the people of Haiti and those working on their behalf.
Thank you very much.
中文譯文:
大家早上好。昨天,海地發(fā)生了強(qiáng)烈地震。在此我想對(duì)海地人民表達(dá)最深的問(wèn)候,美國(guó)人民將堅(jiān)定地向海地提供援助。
我們剛剛開(kāi)始了解到地震所造成破壞的嚴(yán)重程度,我們從新聞報(bào)道和圖片上看到了倒塌的醫(yī)院,變成廢墟的房屋,人們?cè)诮稚咸е軅泥従?,?chǎng)面十分令人心痛。海地和海地人民已歷盡苦難和傷痛,但這場(chǎng)災(zāi)難尤為無(wú)情、讓人感到不可思議。美國(guó)各地還有一些美籍海地人不知道遠(yuǎn)在家鄉(xiāng)的家人和朋友的安危,我們與他們感同身受、并為他們祈禱。
我已下令政府以迅速、協(xié)調(diào)、積極的救援拯救生命。美國(guó)將全力支持海地人民,我們將緊急援救被困災(zāi)民,并提供食品、水以及藥品等人道主義救災(zāi)物資,以滿足海地人民未來(lái)幾天的需要。美國(guó)政府,尤其是美國(guó)國(guó)際開(kāi)發(fā)署、國(guó)務(wù)院和國(guó)防部正與海地、加勒比地區(qū)以及全世界緊密合作,實(shí)施救援。
目前我們的救援活動(dòng)主要集中于以下幾個(gè)緊急的方面。首先,我們迅速查明了在海地首都太子港的美國(guó)駐海地大使館人員及其家人的情況,以及很多在海地生活工作的美國(guó)公民的情況。尋親者可聯(lián)系美國(guó)國(guó)務(wù)院,尋親熱線為(888) 407-4747。我再重復(fù)一遍,(888) 407-4747。
其次,我們調(diào)動(dòng)了人力和物資,支持救援。空軍已對(duì)海地的受災(zāi)情況做出了估計(jì),今天中午之前,我們的平民傷亡救援小組將陸續(xù)抵達(dá)災(zāi)區(qū)。來(lái)自佛羅里達(dá)、維吉尼亞和加利福尼亞的搜救組也將在今明兩天陸續(xù)抵達(dá)。更多的救援和醫(yī)療設(shè)備,以及緊急救護(hù)人員正在籌備之中。
在這樣的災(zāi)難中,最初的幾個(gè)小時(shí)和幾天是搶救生命,避免更大傷亡的關(guān)鍵。我已命令我們的救援組在抵達(dá)災(zāi)區(qū)后及時(shí)開(kāi)展援助,并與國(guó)際救援人員進(jìn)行合作實(shí)施救援。
第三,鑒于所需救援物資種類繁多,我們正采取措施,確保美國(guó)政府統(tǒng)一行動(dòng)。我們的國(guó)家安全人員連夜帶頭開(kāi)展部際合作。為確保救援行動(dòng)協(xié)調(diào)、順利進(jìn)行,我已任命美國(guó)國(guó)際開(kāi)發(fā)署署長(zhǎng)拉吉夫?夏哈擔(dān)任美國(guó)政府救災(zāi)行動(dòng)總指揮。
此次救災(zāi)和災(zāi)后重建工作將非常復(fù)雜,極具挑戰(zhàn)。在我們向海地運(yùn)送救災(zāi)人員和物資的過(guò)程中,我們將與地面人員緊密配合,包括海地的很多非政府組織,在此次地震中傷亡慘重的聯(lián)合國(guó)海地穩(wěn)定特派團(tuán)以及我們?cè)谠摰貐^(qū)和世界各地的合作機(jī)構(gòu)等等。這是一次真正的國(guó)際合作行動(dòng)。
最后,我想說(shuō)明一點(diǎn),這次災(zāi)難提醒了我們共同擁有的人性。美國(guó)和海地之間相隔只有幾百公里的海洋,悠久的歷史將我們兩國(guó)聯(lián)系在一起。海地人民是美國(guó)人民的鄰居,這里就如同他們的家鄉(xiāng),所以在他們需要幫助的緊急時(shí)刻,我們要伸出援手。
盡管美國(guó)國(guó)內(nèi)的境況也很艱難,我仍要鼓勵(lì)那些有意進(jìn)行緊急人道主義援助的美國(guó)人民登陸白宮網(wǎng)站,了解如何捐贈(zèng)。在了解到災(zāi)害的嚴(yán)重程度之后,我們必須提前為今后救災(zāi)的種種困難做好準(zhǔn)備。我們將為遇難者和他們的家人祈禱。我們將以堅(jiān)決果敢的姿態(tài)實(shí)施救援行動(dòng)。我向海地人民保證,不管今天,還是今后,美國(guó)都是你們的朋友和伙伴。
愿上帝保佑海地人民,和在海地的救援人員。
非常感謝。