海地強震背景資料
President Obama's remarks on the earthquake in Haiti
在加勒比島國海地本月12日發生強烈地震後，國際社會紛紛伸出援手，表示將向海地提供人道主義援助。美國總統歐巴馬13日就海地遭遇強震發表講話，承諾美國將迅速積極反應，全力幫助海地救災。以下是他講話的全文。
Here are President Obama’s remarks Wednesday morning on the earthquake in Haiti and rescue efforts, as released by the White House.
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(Source: youku.com)
Good morning, everybody. This morning I want to extend to the people of Haiti the deep condolences and unwavering support of the American people following yesterday’s terrible earthquake.
We are just now beginning to learn the extent of the devastation, but the reports and images that we』ve seen of collapsed hospitals, crumbled homes, and men and women carrying their injured neighbors through the streets are truly heart-wrenching. Indeed, for a country and a people who are no strangers to hardship and suffering, this tragedy seems especially cruel and incomprehensible. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the many Haitian-Americans around our country who do not yet know the fate of their families and loved ones back home.
I have directed my administration to respond with a swift, coordinated, and aggressive effort to save lives. The people of Haiti will have the full support of the United States in the urgent effort to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble, and to deliver the humanitarian relief — the food, water and medicine — that Haitians will need in the coming days. In that effort, our government, especially USAID and the Departments of State and Defense, are working closely together and with our partners in Haiti, the region, and around the world.
Right now our efforts are focused on several urgent priorities. First, we’re working quickly to account for U.S. embassy personnel and their families in Port-au-Prince, as well as the many American citizens who live and work in Haiti. Americans trying to locate family members in Haiti are encouraged to contact the State Department at (888) 407-4747. I’m going to repeat that — (888) 407-4747.
Second, we』ve mobilized resources to help rescue efforts. Military overflights have assessed the damage, and by early afternoon our civilian disaster assistance team are beginning to arrive. Search-and-rescue teams from Florida, Virginia and California will arrive throughout today and tomorrow, and more rescue and medical equipment and emergency personnel are being prepared.
Because in disasters such as this the first hours and days are absolutely critical to saving lives and avoiding even greater tragedy, I have directed my teams to be as forward-leaning as possible in getting the help on the ground and coordinating with our international partners as well.
Third, given the many different resources that are needed, we are taking steps to ensure that our government acts in a unified way. My national security team has led an interagency effort overnight. And to ensure that we coordinate our effort, going forward, I』ve designated the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Dr. Rajiv Shah, to be our government’s unified disaster coordinator.
Now, this rescue and recovery effort will be complex and challenging. As we move resources into Haiti, we will be working closely with partners on the ground, including the many N.G.O.’s from Haiti and across Haiti, the United Nations Stabilization Mission, which appears to have suffered its own losses, and our partners in the region and around the world. This must truly be an international effort.
Finally, let me just say that this is a time when we are reminded of the common humanity that we all share. With just a few hundred miles of ocean between us and a long history that binds us together, Haitians are neighbors of the Americas and here at home. So we have to be there for them in their hour of need.
Despite the fact that we are experiencing tough times here at home, I would encourage those Americans who want to support the urgent humanitarian efforts to go to whitehouse.gov where you can learn how to contribute. We must be prepared for difficult hours and days ahead as we learn about the scope of the tragedy. We will keep the victims and their families in our prayers. We will be resolute in our response, and I pledge to the people of Haiti that you will have a friend and partner in the United States of America today and going forward.
May God bless the people of Haiti and those working on their behalf.
Thank you very much.
中文譯文：
大家早上好。昨天，海地發生了強烈地震。在此我想對海地人民表達最深的問候，美國人民將堅定地向海地提供援助。
我們剛剛開始了解到地震所造成破壞的嚴重程度，我們從新聞報導和圖片上看到了倒塌的醫院，變成廢墟的房屋，人們在街上抬著受傷的鄰居，場面十分令人心痛。海地和海地人民已歷盡苦難和傷痛，但這場災難尤為無情、讓人感到不可思議。美國各地還有一些美籍海地人不知道遠在家鄉的家人和朋友的安危，我們與他們感同身受、並為他們祈禱。
我已下令政府以迅速、協調、積極的救援拯救生命。美國將全力支持海地人民，我們將緊急援救被困災民，並提供食品、水以及藥品等人道主義救災物資，以滿足海地人民未來幾天的需要。美國政府，尤其是美國國際開發署、國務院和國防部正與海地、加勒比地區以及全世界緊密合作，實施救援。
目前我們的救援活動主要集中於以下幾個緊急的方面。首先，我們迅速查明了在海地首都太子港的美國駐海地大使館人員及其家人的情況，以及很多在海地生活工作的美國公民的情況。尋親者可聯繫美國國務院，尋親熱線為(888) 407-4747。我再重複一遍，(888) 407-4747。
其次，我們調動了人力和物資，支持救援。空軍已對海地的受災情況做出了估計，今天中午之前，我們的平民傷亡救援小組將陸續抵達災區。來自佛羅裡達、維吉尼亞和加利福尼亞的搜救組也將在今明兩天陸續抵達。更多的救援和醫療設備，以及緊急救護人員正在籌備之中。
在這樣的災難中，最初的幾個小時和幾天是搶救生命，避免更大傷亡的關鍵。我已命令我們的救援組在抵達災區後及時開展援助，並與國際救援人員進行合作實施救援。
第三，鑑於所需救援物資種類繁多，我們正採取措施，確保美國政府統一行動。我們的國家安全人員連夜帶頭開展部際合作。為確保救援行動協調、順利進行，我已任命美國國際開發署署長拉吉夫•夏哈擔任美國政府救災行動總指揮。
此次救災和災後重建工作將非常複雜，極具挑戰。在我們向海地運送救災人員和物資的過程中，我們將與地面人員緊密配合，包括海地的很多非政府組織，在此次地震中傷亡慘重的聯合國海地穩定特派團以及我們在該地區和世界各地的合作機構等等。這是一次真正的國際合作行動。
最後，我想說明一點，這次災難提醒了我們共同擁有的人性。美國和海地之間相隔只有幾百公裡的海洋，悠久的歷史將我們兩國聯繫在一起。海地人民是美國人民的鄰居，這裡就如同他們的家鄉，所以在他們需要幫助的緊急時刻，我們要伸出援手。
儘管美國國內的境況也很艱難，我仍要鼓勵那些有意進行緊急人道主義援助的美國人民登陸白宮網站，了解如何捐贈。在了解到災害的嚴重程度之後，我們必須提前為今後救災的種種困難做好準備。我們將為遇難者和他們的家人祈禱。我們將以堅決果敢的姿態實施救援行動。我向海地人民保證，不管今天，還是今後，美國都是你們的朋友和夥伴。
願上帝保佑海地人民，和在海地的救援人員。
非常感謝。
海地強震背景資料