VOA标准英语2008年-UN: Nearly Half of Burmese Cyclone Victims Don'

（单词翻译）

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
03 June 2008

The United Nations reports only about half of the 2.4 million survivors¹ of Burma's devastating² Cyclone³ Nargis have received assistance. But, it says that aid is generally spotty and not enough. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.
　

A young boy and his family sit waiting for aid inside their destroyed home in the Burmese village of Angu, 02 Jun 2008

Just over a month ago, Burma's deadliest storm in 40 years struck the country, killing⁴ tens of thousands of people and rendering⁵ millions homeless. The United Nations says aid agencies have managed to reach 1.3 million victims in the worst hit parts of the Irrawaddy Delta⁶.

Spokeswoman for the UN Organization for the Coordination⁷ of Humanitarian⁸ Assistance, Elizabeth Byrs, describes this as progress.

"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 remains⁹ a serious lack of sufficient and sustained humanitarian assistance."

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.

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.

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 Federation¹⁰ and Save the Children. And, this she says, is hampering¹¹ the effectiveness of the humanitarian operation.

"We would urge the government to extend this expedited clearance¹² to all international NGO's [non-governmental organizations] who are working in Myanmar. Their staff is urgently required on the ground."
　

People affected13 by cyclone Nargis wait to board boats prior to travel back to their devastated14 villages in Labutta, in the southwest Irrawaddy Delta, Burma, 03 Jun 2008

Byrs says international experts have begun an important assessment¹⁵ 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.

In the meantime, foreign aid groups are calling on the Burmese authorities to stop closing cyclone relief camps. Human rights groups have condemned¹⁶ the authorities for evicting¹⁷ displaced people from government shelters and pushing them to go to the homes that have been swept away.