The United Nations reports it is running a record funding-shortfall of $4.8 billion for its aid operations in 16 crisis-ridden countries. The United Nations says it has received less than half of the $9.5 billion it needs to carry out it humanitarian operations this year.
联合国报告说，他们在16个危机重重的国家中开展援助活动，但是目前缺少48亿美元的资金，这是历来的最高记录。联合国说，开展人道救援活动需要95亿美元，可是今年的筹款收入还不到这个数目的一半。
The United Nations says the number of people needing help this year is 43 million compared to 28 million last year. As a consequence, more money is needed to care for them. The United Nations says it requires $1.5 billion or 19 percent more money this year to run its operations.
联合国表示，今年需要援助的有4千300万人，而去年是2千800万。为此，需要更多的钱来照顾他们。联合国表示，他们今年需要15亿美元来来开展活动，或是增加19%的资金。
Unfortunately, the top U.N. humanitarian official, John Holmes, says the world is in worse financial shape this year than last and this is having an effect on U.N. fund-raising capabilities.
不幸的是，联合国高级人道救援官员约翰.霍姆斯表示，今年世界的经济状况比去年更差，这影响了联合国的筹款能力。
"It is also the case that the global recession itself is having an effect on the number of people in need," said Holmes. "Climate change and the adverse weather that that has an influence on means that there is continued poor harvest in many countries-and again that has an influence, a significant influence on agriculture and therefore on the amount of food assistance that is required. And, food is always the biggest single component of these appeals."
霍姆斯说：“全球衰退本身影响到需要帮助的人数。气候变化和恶劣天气的影响造成很多国家持续歉收，而且对农业有严重影响，因此也影响到需要粮食援助的数量。同时，在需要援助的所有物品中，食物总是最主要的。”
Holmes says Sudan is running the biggest shortfall of $916 million.
霍姆斯说，苏丹目前短缺9亿1千6百万美元，这是历来最大的数字。
He says deepening drought and a rise of Somali refugees in Kenya are putting greater pressure on that country. He says the more people need assistance in the Palestinian territories, particularly in Gaza, because of the conflict with Israel early this year.
他说，肯尼亚干旱情况加剧，来自索马里的难民人数上升，给这个国家更大的压力。他说，在巴勒斯坦土地上，因为今年初和以色列的冲突，有更多人民需要援助，特别是在加沙地带。
But Holmes notes the most dramatic need is in Pakistan.
然而，霍姆斯指出，最迫切需要援助的是巴基斯坦。
"Pakistan has seen probably the most dramatic and dramatically changing humanitarian situation this year with up to two million people fleeing the military operations in parts of NW Frontier Province. Up two million, as I say. That has meant scaling up, putting up or scaling up a major aid operation with a consequence of large figure of dollars attached to it," he added.
霍姆斯说：“巴基斯坦今年有2百万人由于军事行动而逃离西北边境省，因此巴基斯坦的人道处境可能最为严重，而且有很大变化。我说的，有2百万人。这就意味着需要开展大规模援助活动，其结果就是需要大笔资金。”
Other areas of concern include Zimbabwe, which continues to suffer from food security. But Holmes says U.N. aid workers have been more successful in assisting people in the country since the creation of the power-sharing government.
其他令人关切的地区包括津巴布韦，那里持续存在食品安全问题。然而，霍姆斯说，自从津巴布韦成立权力分享的政府后，联合国援助工作人员在援助当地人民方面取得了更多的进展。
The U.N. humanitarian official says other situations include the 250,000 Tamil civilians who remain displaced in camps in the northern part of Sri Lanka. He says millions of Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan, as well as millions of Iraqis displaced in their own country continue to need food, water, shelter and other basic relief.
联合国人道救援官员表示，其他还有25万流离失所的泰米尔平民仍然暂居在斯里兰卡北部的难民营。他说，还有几百万在叙利亚和约旦的伊拉克难民，几百万在伊拉克境内流离失所的难民，这些人不断需要食物，水，避难所，和其他基本救援物品。 |