VOA常速英语2017--4月4日:国际提高地雷意识和协助地雷行动日（在线收听）

For people living in former conflict zones, war may not end for years after the last shot has been fired and the peace agreement is signed. For example, landmines and unexploded munitions, remnants of the war between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the Colombian government, stand in the way of post-accord stabilization and reconstruction, and inhibit long-term development.

对于居住在此前是纷争地带的人们来说，战争并不会因为最后一枪的打响和和平协议的签订而结束。比如，哥伦比亚革命武装力量(Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia)与哥伦比亚政府争战留下的地雷、未燃爆的军火、战争残留物就阻碍了协议签订后的稳定与重建，阻碍了长期发展。

They render millions of hectares of land unusable, preventing farmers from tending their fields and herders from pasturing their cattle. In too many countries, ordinary travel is dangerous because roads are lined with minefields and a misstep could cost a passerby his or her life. Everyday activities like gathering wood or forest fruits, hauling produce to the market, or even taking a short-cut through the fields are fraught with danger. Too many children have lost their lives and limbs chasing a stray soccer ball into a mine field.

这些战争残留物让数千万公顷土地无法使用，农民们无法耕耘土地，放牧者无法牧牛。在很多国家，普通的旅行都十分危险，因为很多路面下埋有地雷。一失足可能就让一位游客失去性命。日常活动，比如收集木头和野果、拉农产品去集市上卖，甚至在田野里抄近路都充满危险。太多孩子在追逐跑丢的足球时误入雷区，导致丧命或残疾。

That is why every April 4th, we observe the United Nations' International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. The observance is meant to not only remind us that danger lingers long after the conflict is done, but also to detail all the steps taken by the international community to eliminate the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war.

这就是每年4月4日我们纪念联合国国际提高地雷意识和协助地雷行动日(International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action)的原因。这个纪念日不仅是要提醒我们危险在冲突结束后依然存在，也将国际社会所采取的所有措施具体化，这些措施都是为了减轻战争残留的地雷和燃爆性军火的威胁。

“The United States is working closely with the international community to address this serious humanitarian challenge which puts innocent people, including many children, at risk,” said State Department Acting Spokesperson Mark Toner.

“美国正与国际社会密切合作，解决这一严重的人道主义挑战，该挑战将很多无辜的人们置于危险之中，这其中不乏孩子，”国务院代理发言人马克说。

Since 1993, the United States has provided over 2.8 billion dollars in assistance for conventional weapons destruction programs in some 95 countries. “These programs produce tangible, measurable, positive results by providing the expertise and equipment to safely clear landmines and other unexploded ordnance, and to assist landmine accident survivors with rehabilitation and reintegration,” said Spokesperson Toner.

自1993年以来，美国已提供了28多亿美元，援助近95个国家毁灭常规武器的项目。“这些项目成果丰硕实在，影响积极，提供了专家技术和设备，以安全排雷，并为踩雷事件的幸存者提供康复支持，”马克说道。

“Secretary of State Rex Tillerson underlined the essential role that demining plays in stabilization in Iraq and Syria, as civilians seek to return home to areas liberated from ISIS,” he said.

“国务卿蒂勒森强调了排雷对伊拉克和叙利亚稳定的重要作用，因为很多（伊拉克和叙利亚）百姓正想办法返回脱离IS控制的家园，”蒂勒森说。

“On this day of mine awareness, we urge other nations to join us in a robust international partnership with the shared goal of reducing the impact of landmines around the world.”

“值此提高排雷意识的纪念日，我们敦促其他国家加入到我们这个强大的国际伙伴关系中，致力于减少全球地雷威胁的共同目标。”