VOA双语新闻 =International Response to Tsunami Disaster（在线收听）

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell says he expects international contributions to countries hit by the earthquake and tsunami disaster to be in the billions of dollars. Mr. Powell, in morning TV interviews Tuesday, rejected a UN official's comment that the response of the United States and other Western nations thus far has been "stingy."

美国国务卿鲍威尔说，国际社会对地震和海啸灾区的捐助可望达到数十亿美元。鲍威尔星期二早上在接受电视台采访时驳斥了联合国官员有关美国和其他西方国家“太小气”的说法。

The U.S. commitment to relief efforts from the earthquake and tidal wave disaster thus far is about $15 million. But officials here say U.S. pledges will increase sharply, and rapidly, as the extent of damage and appeals from hard-hit countries are examined.

到目前为止，美国对地震和海啸灾区的援助和捐款承诺已经达到大约1500万美元。不过国务院官员说，美国将进一步研究重灾区的损失情况和有关呼吁，因此美国的承诺还会大幅度、而且急剧地增加。

They are bristling over a remark Monday by U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland that the United States and other wealthy nations are being "stingy" with relief funds.

美国官员对联合国负责人道事务的副秘书长简·埃格兰指责美国和其他富有国家在提供救助资金方面过于小气的讲话感到愤怒。

Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed the issue in an unusual set of appearances on five TV network morning programs Tuesday.

星期二早上，鲍威尔国务卿不同寻常地接连在五个电视频道上露面，讨论了这个问题。

He said far from being stingy, the United States is the world's single-greatest contributor to international disaster relief, anti-AIDS and food programs, and that tsunami assistance pledges announced thus far are just a starting point.

他说，美国绝不小气，无论在国际灾难救济、艾滋病防治，还是在食品项目上， 美国都是世界上最大的捐助国。到目前为止，美国在海啸灾难援助方面所宣布的承诺仅仅是个起点。

Mr. Powell told the NBC Today program he has contacted every one of his foreign minister colleagues from affected countries and told them to inform local U.S. embassies what their assistance needs will be. He said he expects the combined response from the United States and other major donor states to ultimately be in the billions of dollars.

鲍威尔对全国广播公司说，他跟受灾国的每一位外长都进行了联系，告诉他们通知当地的美国使馆他们都需要哪些援助。鲍威尔说，美国和其他主要捐助国的援助加在一起可望达到数十亿美元。

"We'll have to wait and see what the needs actually are,” said Mr. Powell. “But clearly the United States will be a major contributor to this international effort. And yes, it will run into the billions of dollars. Villages have been wiped out, schools wiped out, but it will take a while to make sure we have a good understanding of what the needs are."

鲍威尔说，“我们得等等看，看到底都有哪些需要。但是，很明显，美国将成为这次国际行动的主要捐助国。是的，最终将达到几十亿美元。村庄被冲毁了，学校被冲毁了，但是我们需要一些时间才能很好地了解到底都需要哪些援助。”

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has sent more than 20 disaster experts to stricken countries to assess their needs. The U.S. military's Pacific Command is also responding, dispatching nine patrol planes to the region to assist in search and rescue operations. Twelve U.S. military cargo planes have been sent to transport relief supplies.

美国国际开发署已经向受灾国家派出了20多名专家，去评估当地的需求。美国军方的太平洋司令部也做出了反应，派出了九架巡逻机去灾区，协助搜寻和抢救行动。此外，12架美军运输机奉命前去运送救援物资。

The earthquake and tidal waves struck as thousands of American and other tourists were spending year-end holidays at resorts around the Indian Ocean. Secretary Powell said hundreds of U.S. citizens remain unaccounted for, though they are not necessarily among the casualties. He said there are 11 confirmed American deaths and that a number of others are being treated for injuries.

在发生地震和海啸的时候，成千上万的美国人和其他游客正在印度洋沿岸的渡假胜地过年终假期。鲍威尔国务卿说，数百名美国公民仍然没有消息，尽管他们未必就在伤亡者之列。他说，有11名美国人证实已经遇难，还有一些人受伤，目前正在接受治疗。