VOA常速英语2015--改革难民营能源供给方式或能拯救人民生命（在线收听）

Revolutionizing Power in Refugee Camps Could Save Lives and Money 改革难民营能源供给方式或能拯救人民生命

LONDON—

Millions of dollars and thousands of lives could be saved by overhauling the way energy is provided to refugee camps, according to a new report. The researchers aim to generate private sector interest in bringing new technologies to some of the world’s most desperate people.

The global displacement of people has reached its highest ever level.  According to the United Nations, 59.5 million people have been forced to leave their homes.

联合国难民署的最新报告显示被迫流离失所者正在显著增加而且已达到5950万人。

Refugee camps are swelling in size, and the resources to keep them running are often scarce.

难民营正变得拥挤不堪,而且维持这些难民营运作的资源往往十分稀缺。

The newly formed Moving Energy Initiative, a collaboration between humanitarian organizations, is calling for an overhaul in the way energy is supplied and used in camps. Glada Lahn is from British policy group Chatham House, which is part of the Initiative.

而人道主义组织间协作新达成的移动能源倡议呼吁全面改革难民营的能源供给及使用方式。英国查塔姆研究所策略组的加拉达?拉恩是此次倡议的提出者之一。

“We believe there is huge opportunity to both improve the lives and livelihoods of these very vulnerable people and also help to save money over the long term," said Lahn.

“我们相信有很多机会能够改善这些弱势群体的生活和生活,而且有助于长期节省成本。”

The most recent electricity bill for Jordan’s Zaatari camp on the Syrian border came to $8.7 million, forcing the U.N. to cut improvised connections. But 90 percent of people living in camps have no access to electricity, 80 percent rely on firewood for cooking.

叙利亚边境札塔里难民营最近的一次电费达到了870万美元,联合国不得不为此削减临时连接。但90%的人生活的难民营中没有供电,80%的人需要柴火才能做饭。

“Given more efficient cook stoves and solar lanterns, for instance, there could be a saving we estimated at $323 million per year, which would pay off the initial investment fairly quickly. There are even better solutions, once you start involving solar or solar hybrid mini-grids, other forms of renewable energy," she said.

"考虑到诸如更高效能灶具及太阳能灯估计可能每年会为我们节省3.23亿美元,这将很快偿还最初的花销。一旦你开始使用太阳能或太阳能混合微电网及其他形式的可再生能源就会有更好的解决方案。”

Researchers estimate that 20,000 refugees die prematurely every year due to the pollution from indoor fires for cooking.

研究人员估计,每年有20000名难民由于在室内用明火烹饪造成的污染过早死亡。

Gathering the fuel can also be dangerous, especially for women.

而收集木柴也是一项危险工作,尤其对女性而言。

“Women do not want to leave the tent or the hut at nighttime if there is no lighting. If they do, they are at risk of accidents and also attacks. Similarly, we heard so many cases of women and girls leaving the camps to collect firewood and being at risk from rape and other types of attack," said Lahn.

“如果没有照明设备的话在夜间女性不想离开帐篷或小屋。这样做会增加发生事故及遭遇袭击的风险。同样我们也了解到过很多妇女及女孩离开营地捡柴遭遇各种不测的情况。”

Lahn said host countries are often reluctant to provide facilities that appear permanent. But researchers say that using green technologies could save lives and radically improve living standards for the world’s most vulnerable people. 

东道国往往不愿提供永久性的设施。但研究人员表示使用绿色技术可以拯救人们的性命,从根本上改善世界上最脆弱群体的生活水平。