VOA慢速英语2021 联合国称到2022年缅甸半数人口可能陷入贫困

The United Nations says the effects of Myanmar's political crisis and the coronavirus could push half the country's population into poverty by 2022.

联合国表示，缅甸政治危机和冠状病毒的影响可能会在2022年前使该国半数人口陷入贫困。

The warning came in a report released last week by the U.N.'s Development Program.

联合国开发计划署（简称UNDP）在上周发布的报告中发出这一警告。

It said as many as 25 million people, or nearly half the population, is in danger of dropping into poverty.

报告称，多达2500万人——或占该国人口的近一半，正处于陷入贫困的危险之中。

Both COVID-19 and the country's ongoing¹ political crisis "are pushing the most vulnerable back and more deeply into poverty," the UNDP's Kanni Wignaraja told Reuters.

联合国开发计划署的坎尼·维格纳拉贾对路透社记者表示，新冠肺炎和缅甸持续的政治危机“正在将最脆弱人群推回贫困的深渊”。

She is Assistant U.N. Secretary-General and leads UNDP's operations in Asia.

她是联合国助理秘书长，负责联合国开发计划署在亚洲的工作。

The report noted² that from 2005 to 2017, Myanmar was able to reduce its poverty level by about 50 percent.

报告指出，2005年到2017年，缅甸设法使贫困人口减少了约一半。

But those development gains are now "being erased³ in a matter of months," Wignaraja said.

但维格纳拉贾表示，这些发展成果将在“几个月内被抹去”。

Without a working democracy, "Myanmar faces a tragic⁴ and avoidable backslide towards levels of poverty not seen in a generation," UNDP Administrator⁵ Achim Steiner said in a statement.

联合国开发计划署署长阿希姆·施泰纳发表声明表示，如果没有行之有效的民主制度，“缅甸将面临可悲的、本可以避免的倒退，而且是向一代人都未曾见过的贫困水平倒退。”

Myanmar's political crisis began when the military overthrew⁶ the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1.

缅甸的政治危机始于2月1日，当时军方推翻了民选的昂山素季政府。

The government has used deadly force against individuals protesting against the military overthrow⁷.

之后，政府对抗议军事推翻行动的个人使用了致命武力。

Activist⁸ groups say more than 750 civilians⁹ have been killed in demonstrations¹⁰ across the country.

维权组织表示，缅甸各地有超过750名平民在示威中丧生。

Before the military takeover, Myanmar citizens were struggling financially because of the coronavirus pandemic.

在军事接管之前，缅甸公民已因冠状病毒疫情而陷入经济困境。

The report showed that by the end of 2020, about 83 percent of families reported their incomes had been cut nearly in half because of the health crisis.

报告显示，截至2020年底，约83%的家庭报告称，这场健康危机导致他们的收入减少了近一半。

The report estimates that the number of people in Myanmar living below the poverty line increased 11 percent by the end of 2020.

报告估计，截至2020年底，缅甸生活在贫困线以下的人数增加了11%。

It adds that the country's poverty rate could rise an additional 12 percent.

报告还指出，该国的贫困率可能会再上升12%。

Among the reasons for expected increases in poverty include Myanmar's worsening security situation and threats to human rights since the military takeover of the government.

预计贫困人口会增加的原因包括，缅甸自军方接管政府以来日益恶化的安全局势以及对人权的威胁。

The report said poverty in the nation's cities was expected to increase by 200 percent.

报告表示，缅甸各城市的贫困人口预计将增加200%。

Wignaraja said women and children are most affected¹¹ by the country's continuing health and political crises.

维格纳拉贾表示，受该国持续的健康和政治危机影响最大的是女性和儿童。

"Half of all children in Myanmar could be living in poverty within a year."

“缅甸可能有半数儿童在一年内生活在贫困之中。”

The report said security issues have severely¹² restricted the movement of people, services, and goods, including agricultural products.

报告表示，安全问题严重限制了人员、服务和农产品等货物的流动。

In addition, pressure on Myanmar's currency, the Kyat, has increased the price of imports and energy.

此外，缅甸货币缅元面临的压力导致进口产品和能源价格上涨。

The country's banking¹³ system is also weak.

该国的银行体系也很薄弱。

This has resulted in money shortages and limited availability to government assistance payments and remittance¹⁴ services.

这导致资金短缺，政府援助付款和汇款服务受限。

The U.N. said that before the latest crises, nearly 1 million people in Myanmar had already been identified as needing humanitarian¹⁵ assistance and protection.

联合国表示，在最近的危机发生之前，缅甸已有近100万人被确定需要人道主义援助和保护。

"As stated by the U.N. secretary-general, the scale of the crisis requires an urgent and unified¹⁶ international response," Wignaraja said.

维格纳表示，“正如联合国秘书长所说，这场危机的规模需要国际社会作出紧急和统一的反应。”

I'm Bryan Lynn.

布莱恩·林恩报道。

1 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 erased   

v.擦掉( erase的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；清除

参考例句：

• He erased the wrong answer and wrote in the right one. 他擦去了错误答案，写上了正确答案。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He removed the dogmatism from politics; he erased the party line. 他根除了政治中的教条主义，消除了政党界限。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

5 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

6 overthrew   

overthrow的过去式

参考例句：

• The people finally rose up and overthrew the reactionary regime. 人们终于起来把反动的政权推翻了。
• They overthrew their King. 他们推翻了国王。

7 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

8 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

9 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

10 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

11 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

12 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

13 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

14 remittance   

n.汇款，寄款，汇兑

参考例句：

• Your last month's salary will be paid by remittance.最后一个月的薪水将通过汇寄的方式付给你。
• A prompt remittance would be appreciated.速寄汇款不胜感激。

15 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

16 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。