U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has formed a high-level task force to deal with the global food crisis.
联合国秘书长潘基文组建了一个高层工作小组来应对全球的粮食危机。
Mr. Ban just returned from a trip to Europe and West Africa where he says the gravity of the global food crisis dominated discussions. He says some leaders warned him that the crisis could derail efforts to recover from years of conflict.
潘基文刚刚结束了对欧洲和西非的访问。他说，访问期间，全球粮食危机的严重性是他们会谈的重点。他说，一些领导人警告说，粮食危机可能会破坏为了从多年冲突中恢复过来所做的努力。
"If not properly handled, this crisis could cascade into multiple crises affecting trade, development and even social and political security around the world," said Ban Ki-moon. "The livelihoods of hundreds and millions of people are threatened."
潘基文说：“如果处理不当，粮食危机可能会升级成为多种危机，影响贸易、发展，甚至全球的社会和政治安全。几亿人的生计会受到威胁。”
Mr. Ban says promising steps to address emergency needs have been taken in recent days. But he says the United Nations must take the lead in dealing with the longer-term challenges, particularly efforts to boost agricultural development in affected regions.
潘基文说，最近几天已经采取了一些积极措施来解决紧急需要。不过，他表示，联合国必须带头应对长期的挑战，特别是要努力在受影响的地区大力发展农业。
"I have called on leaders not to take measures that distort trade and push up prices," he said. "We need immediate action to get seed, fertilizer and other agricultural inputs to the world's small farmers. This crisis did not come out of the blue. It grew out of more than a decade of neglect and ineffective development policies. We need a new start."
他说：“我已经向各国领导人发出呼吁，不要采取扭曲贸易和抬高粮价的措施。我们必须立即行动，把种子、化肥和其它农业用品送到各国的小农场主手中。这次粮食危机决非凭空而来。粮食危机是十多年来的忽视和发展政策无效造成的恶果。”
Mr. Ban says the new task force will study the root causes of the crisis and propose solutions to be executed decisively. He will attend the task force's first meeting next Monday.
潘基文说，新成立的工作小组将研究危机产生的根源，并提出必须果断执行的解决方案。潘基文将出席下星期一召开的工作小组第一次会议。
He has asked U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes to head the effort. David Nabarro, senior coordinator for the U.N.'s avian flu task force, will serve as deputy.
潘基文责成联合国人道主义事务负责人霍尔姆斯担任这个工作小组的组长。联合国禽流感高级协调员纳巴罗将任副组长。
Mr. Ban is inviting world leaders to join him in Rome in June for a world summit on the issue.
潘基文邀请世界各国领导人和他一道出席于6月在罗马召开的粮食危机全球首脑会议。 |