The United Nations reports only about half of the 2.4 million survivors of Burma's devastating Cyclone Nargis have received assistance. But, it says that aid is generally spotty and not enough.
联合国说，在缅甸发生的灾难性纳尔吉斯强热带风暴的250万幸存者中，只有大约一半人得到援助，但整体而言，援助非但不够，而且零零星星。
Just over a month ago, Burma's deadliest storm in 40 years struck the country, killing tens of thousands of people and rendering millions homeless. The United Nations says aid agencies have managed to reach 1.3 million victims in the worst hit parts of the Irrawaddy Delta.
就在一个多月前，缅甸40年来最严重的风暴重袭了这个国家，造成数万人死亡，数百万人无家可归。联合国说，救援人员设法将援助物资送到了伊洛瓦底江三角洲受灾最严重的130万灾民手中。
Spokeswoman for the UN Organization for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance, Elizabeth Byrs, describes this as progress.
联合国人道事务援助协调厅发言人拜尔斯认为，这算是取得了进展。
"However, with regards to the beneficiaries it is important to note that most of these persons have been reached with inconsistent levels of assistance," said Byrs. "For example, assistance provided is not sustained and in some cases is well below requirements. That is why there remains a serious lack of sufficient and sustained humanitarian assistance."
拜尔斯说：“但是，就那些接受救援的人们而言，必须要知道，这些人当中的大部分接受的是不连续的救援。例如，救援并不持续，而且有些地方远远低于需求。这就是为什么还严重缺乏足够的、持续的人道主义救援。”
Nevertheless, compared to the weeks following the cyclone disaster, the humanitarian situation has improved. The Burmese military rulers, which had rejected most offers of foreign aid, finally relented under intense international pressure.
尽管如此，如果跟强热带风暴刚过的几个星期相比，人道主义局势已得到改善。缅甸军政府起初拒绝大部分的外国援助，但在国际上巨大压力下，最终态度软化。
Relief supplies now are regularly being flown into Rangoon. And, Byrs says it now is much easier for U.N. international staff to go out into the field to help the victims. She says U.N. foreign workers are granted access to these areas within 48 hours after notifying the authorities.
救援物资现在能按步就班地运抵仰光。拜尔斯说，联合国工作人员到灾区帮助灾民现在容易得多了。她说，联合国的外国工作人员在通知缅甸当局48个小时后，就能获准前往灾区。
But, she says the Burmese authorities do not accord the same privilege to foreign specialists working for international and non-governmental agencies such as the International Red Cross Federation and Save the Children. And, this she says, is hampering the effectiveness of the humanitarian operation.
不过，她表示，缅甸当局没有给予为国际和非政府机构工作的外国专业人员同等的待遇，包括国际红十字会和拯救儿童等机构的工作人员。她说，这阻碍了人道主义救援行动的有效性。
"We would urge the government to extend this expedited clearance to all international NGO's [non-governmental organizations] who are working in Myanmar. Their staff is urgently required on the ground."
拜尔斯说：“我们愿敦促缅甸政府将这种快速审查程序应用到在缅甸工作的所有国际非政府组织上。灾区急需他们的工作人员。”
Byrs says international experts have begun an important assessment mission to the stricken area to get a clear picture of all the needs. She says a full report will be ready toward the end of the month.
拜尔斯说，国际专家已开始一项重要的使命，对受灾地区进行评估，弄清楚灾区所有的需要。她说，他们本月底将拿出一份详细报告。
In the meantime, foreign aid groups are calling on the Burmese authorities to stop closing cyclone relief camps. Human rights groups have condemned the authorities for evicting displaced people from government shelters and pushing them to go to the homes that have been swept away.
另一方面，外国救援组织呼吁缅甸政府停止关闭灾区的难民营。人权组织谴责缅甸当局将无家可归的灾民从政府的难民营中赶走，迫使他们回到已经被风暴毁坏的家园。 |