VOA常速英语2019--美式臭不要脸第n弹：帮助莫桑比克是因为民族慷慨（在线收听）

On March 15, intense Tropical Cyclone Idai made landfall in south-eastern Africa and caused a disaster in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. In early April, USAID Administrator Mark Green sent Counselor Christopher Milligan to Mozambique. He expressed the Agency’s sympathies to the government and the victims of the massive cyclone and the subsequent flooding. He described the devastating situation there and the need for U.S. assistance:

The cyclone came across and devastated four provinces of Mozambique, as well as parts of Zimbabwe and Malawi. But what it also did, was create an inland sea of more than 800 square miles in an area with very, very few tall buildings. So a lot of people’s homes and infrastructure were destroyed by the flooding, as well as the high winds that came with the cyclone.

Some 1.8 million people have been affected by cyclone Idai. More than 600 people died in Mozambique, while well over 300 died in Zimbabwe, said Counselor Milligan:

The U.S. government provided emergency airlift through the Department of Defense, AFRICOM. We were able, the U.S. government, to run nearly 80 airlift missions, moving about 800 metric tons of food and help bring items to the hard-hit communities.

Indeed, food security remains a concern, as does an outbreak of cholera.

The U.S. government, said Counselor Milligan, has also provided funding to the World Food Program to help feed about 1.7 million people in need. In addition, the U.S. government provided about 2.5 million dollars in emergency relief to Zimbabwe, and over 3 million dollars to Malawi. Mozambique, the hardest-hit country, received over 50 million dollars in assistance.

So why does the United States care about such far-away countries?

We care for many reasons, said Counselor Milligan. We’re a generous people, and one of our key values is our generosity. And we help those when they’re in need.

The United States has been working with Mozambique for a long time to assist the country recover from a devastating civil war, and to help Mozambique become more self-reliant and stable so it can be a full partner in the international community.

3月15日，强力热带气旋伊代着陆于非洲东南部，导致莫桑比克、津巴布韦、马拉维发生灾难。4月初，美国国际开发署（USAID）署长马克派参事克里斯托弗前往莫桑比克。他表达了该署对该国政府及其受害者的同情，同情他们遭受了大规模气旋和随后的洪灾。他描述了那里的悲惨情况以及美国援助的必要性：

伊代来袭，导致莫桑比克4个省份以及津巴布韦和马拉维的部分地区受到重创。此外，伊代也导致一个内陆海产生，这片海方圆800多英里，其周边地区都是非常矮的建筑物。因此，很多人的家和基础设施都遭到了洪灾的毁坏，罪魁祸首还有伊代带来的强风。

近180万人受到了热带气旋伊代的影响。有莫桑比克和津巴布韦的死亡人数分别达到600多人和300多人，参事克里斯托弗如是说道。

美国政府提供了应急空运，具体实施部门是国防部美军非洲司令部。我们美国政府可以执行近80次空运任务，将大概800公吨的粮食送过去，此外将一些屋子带给受到重创的各社群。

不可否认的是，粮食安全依然是令人忧心的问题，此外还有霍乱的爆发。

参事克里斯托弗表示，美国政府已经向世界粮食计划署提供了资金，以帮助为近170万有需要的人提供粮食。此外，美国政府提供了近250万美元，作为应急救援提供给津巴布韦，此外还将300多万美元捐助给了马拉维。莫桑比克是受创最为严重的国家，它收到了美国5000多万援助金。

那么，美国为什么要如此关心偏远的国家呢？

参事克里斯托弗表示，这其中有很多原因。美国是慷慨的民族，我们重要的一个价值观就是慷慨待人。所以我们会帮助那些有需要的人。

长期以来，美国一直在跟莫桑比克一道合作，以协助该国从毁灭性的内战中恢复过来，同时也帮助莫桑比克成为更加自立、更加稳定的国家，这样莫桑比克才能在国际事务中充分与他国合作。