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严重雾霾影响清迈经济及居民健康

In northern Thailand, the annual haze¹ has come early, affecting both citizens' health and the local economy -- including traffic in and out of the region's airports.

每年都出现的雾霾现象今年在泰国北部提前出现，影响着居民健康和当地经济，也阻碍了当地机场的飞机起落。

In the capital of Chiang Mai, hospital workers face an alarming increase in patients suffering respiratory illnesses, as the haze sets in.

泰国北部地区的游客数量上升，但旅游业者却并不愿意看到这个数字。在首府清迈，随着雾霾的到来，医务工作者接收的呼吸科病人越来越多。

It’s a problem every year caused by excessive field burning in the region during the dry season. But this year’s smoke arrived early.

这种情况每年都会发生，原因是当地在旱季田地焚烧过度。而今年的雾霾比往年来得更早。

Thousands of air masks have been distributed to those most prone² to illness. But it is seen mostly as damage control for nurses like Saisuda Sutthirat.

医院向易感染人群分发了数以千计的口罩。但是对于萨苏达·苏西莱特这样的护士来说，这其实更像是损害管控。

"We have health pamphlets to hand out to patients who have the throat problems and coughing," she said. "We teach them how to wear the mask properly.”

护士长苏西莱特说，“我们向那些有喉疾和咳嗽的病人分发手册，教授他们如何正确使用口罩。”

Trans-boundary haze has been a growing problem in Southeast Asia as unregulated development moves ahead in places like Laos and Myanmar, also known as Burma.

由于老挝和缅甸等地存在违规发展项目，越境飘来的雾霾已经成为东南亚地区一个日益严重的问题。

A report released last week by the U.S.-based international non-profit organization Forest Trends says that forest conversion³ for commercial agriculture is now the main reason behind Myanmar’s deforestation, which often entails⁴ massive burning.

上周，总部设在美国的国际非营利组织森林趋势发布报告，其中表示将森林改变为商用农田已经成为缅甸森林砍伐的一个主要原因，而这往往包括大规模烧荒。

Thai officials monitoring hotspots in the region say drastic measures must be taken by all countries to reduce the problem.

监测当地热点地区的泰国官员说，所有国家都必须大刀阔斧地缓解这个问题。

"We have reports the Thai army working on the border has talked with leaders of the neighboring countries, asking them to help to stop the forest fires and make a boundary fire line. But it’s still not enough," said Jongklai Woraphongsatorn, of Chiang Mai's Natural Resource and Environment office.

清迈自然资源与环境部钟凯莱?沃拉丰萨通说，“有报告显示，边境的泰国军队与邻国领导人交涉，要求他们帮助制止焚烧森林，并且设定一个边境防火线。但是这并不够。”

"They have to decrease the hot spots in their country too because the fire didn’t just spread across the border but when they burn the forest, the winds blow the smoke into our country and impact the people," he said.

“他们也得减少国内热点，因为他们焚烧森林的时候，不仅仅火焰会越境，风也会将浓烟吹到我们国家，影响我们的人民。”

Many flights have been cancelled or re-directed but solutions are limited and authorities are now adding rain-making and forest fire runs to alleviate⁵ the particles of dust.

很多航班都被取消或改道，但是解决方法有限。当局增加了在森林大火地区的人工造雨来减轻灰尘颗粒。

For Air Force Captain Phongthep Viwattanadet, who usually douses⁶ the flames, the challenge of cutting through the smog is mounting.

经常负责扑灭大火的空军上尉蓬瑟·威瓦谭德说，穿越烟雾的难度越来越高。

"The haze has impacted to our flight visibility. But we have an aviation standard to guide us when it causes problems to our flight," he said. "So far we can deal with the visibility and we will continue our water drops until it gets better."

“雾霾影响我们的飞行视线。但我们有一个航空标准，在飞行能见度有问题时能够导航。我们现在能够应对能见度问题，直到情况有所好转前，我们会继续洒水扑火。

For now, it seems like the locals will have to wait for the monsoon⁷ season to clear things up. In the long term, however, questions remain about how much damage will be inflicted⁸ before a proper groundwork can be implemented⁹ for a real solution.

就眼前来说，当地居民得等到雨季来临才能告别雾霾。但是长远来看，在实施能真正解决问题的方案之前，雾霾到底造成多大伤害仍然是未知数。