The World Food Program warns hundreds of thousands of people, trapped by fighting in the northeastern Sri Lankan region of Vanni, are facing a food crisis. The Sri Lankan government is pressing its military campaign against the Tamil Tiger rebels in the region. WFP says about one-quarter of a million people there are totally dependent on international aid agencies who are unable to gain access to the area.
世界粮食计划署警告说，斯里兰卡北部万尼地区成千上万的民众被战火所困，面临严重的食品危机。在万尼地区，斯里兰卡政府军正在对泰米尔猛虎反政府势力发动猛烈攻击。世界粮食计划署表示，那里有大约25万民众目前完全要依靠国际援助，但是救援机构根本就没有办法进入那一地区。
Vanni is practically sealed off to the outside world. The United Nations says about 250,000 civilians are trapped there. It says they are caught in the fighting between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels.
万尼地区目前几乎与外界彻底隔绝。联合国表示，有大约25万民众困在那一地区，他们被夹在斯里兰卡政府军和泰米尔猛虎反政府力量的激烈交战中。
Hundreds of civilians reportedly have been killed and many wounded. Aid agencies say they are unable to bring essential relief supplies to the people. A World Food Program spokeswoman, Emilia Casella, says people are suffering from a critical shortage of food.
据报导，已经有数百普通民众在冲突中丧生，还有很多人受伤。救援机构表示，根本就没有办法把最基本的救援物资送到人们手中。世界粮食计划署发言人卡塞拉说，那一带的民众目前面临着严重的食品短缺。
"At present, the entire population of the Vanni is facing a food crisis due to continuous displacement, crop failure and recent floods," she said. "Their livelihood is almost completely lost, exacerbating the food insecurity and their coping mechanisms have been exhausted. There is complete dependency on humanitarian and food assistance for their survival."
“眼下，万尼地区所有的居民都面临食品短缺的危机，原因是战火不断、收成不好、再加上水灾。他们几乎失去了所有的生存基础，原本就存在的食品安全问题愈加严重了；几乎可以说颗粒无收；全部要靠人道救援物资赖以生存。”
Casella says the WFP has sent 11 convoys into the area since September and this has kept about 230,000 people alive during this period. She calls the current situation particularly worrying.
卡塞拉说，世界粮食计划署从去年9月以来，已经派遣了11个救援团队到那一地区，这期间，让23万人能够维持生活。她说，目前的局势尤其让人担心。
She says the WFP wanted to send a food convoy into Vanni on Thursday, but was unable to get the necessary clearance from government officials.
"The authorities have said that they would permit a humanitarian window of about four hours on Thursdays to get food in," said Casella. "So, we were counting on that possibility. Our office in Sri Lanka is quite actively lobbying, obviously talking to whoever we can to see that there would be an opportunity for humanitarian activities to continue and that access be given so that the people who are trapped in this area are able to have food."
“斯里兰卡当局说，每个星期四将有几个小时的时间，允许救援机构把食品运到这一地区。所以，我们就只能是等着这一机会了。我们在斯里兰卡的办事处一直在努力说服当地官员，让我们有机会从事人道救援工作，能够进入那些地方，给那些陷在战火中的民众送去一些食品。”
Casella notes the agency's last food convoy was able to get into the conflict zone on January 16. She says that food would have been enough for about one week.
卡塞拉指出，世界粮食计划署的食品运送团队上次进入战区的时间是在1月16号，她说，那次送去的物资，只够人们一个星期用的。
The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for a separate nation for the past 25 years. Some 70,000 people have died in this conflict. In recent months, the Sri Lankan military has made important gains and the government claims that victory is at hand.
泰米尔猛虎反政府人士过去25年来一直在为创建独立家园而战。已经有大约7万人死于泰米尔和斯里兰卡政府军之间持续了多年的战事。最近几个月来，斯里兰卡军方取得显著战果，政府认为最后胜利就在眼前。
Vanni is at the center of the current fighting and evidence indicates that more and more civilians are being caught in the crossfire.
万尼地区恰恰处在战区。有证据显示，越来越多的普通民众难逃战火。 |