(来源：英语学习门户网站EnglishCN.com)

美国总统奥巴马就海地地震发表的讲话

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.

大家早上好。昨天，海地发生了强烈地震。在此我想对海地人民表达最深的问候，美国人民将坚定地向海地提供援助。

 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.

我们刚刚开始了解到地震所造成破坏的严重程度，我们从新闻报道和图片上看到了倒塌的医院，变成废墟的房屋，人们在街上抬着受伤的邻居，场面十分令人心痛。海地和海地人民已历尽苦难和伤痛，但这场灾难尤为无情、让人感到不可思议。美国各地还有一些美籍海地人不知道远在家乡的家人和朋友的安危，我们与他们感同身受、并为他们祈祷。

 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.

我已下令政府以迅速、协调、积极的救援拯救生命。美国将全力支持海地人民，我们将紧急援救被困灾民，并提供食品、水以及药品等人道主义救灾物资，以满足海地人民未来几天的需要。美国政府，尤其是美国国际开发署、国务院和国防部正与海地、加勒比地区以及全世界紧密合作，实施救援。

 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.

目前我们的救援活动主要集中于以下几个紧急的方面。首先，我们迅速查明了在海地首都太子港的美国驻海地大使馆人员及其家人的情况，以及很多在海地生活工作的美国公民的情况。寻亲者可联系美国国务院，寻亲热线为(888) 407-4747。我再重复一遍，(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.

其次，我们调动了人力和物资，支持救援。空军已对海地的受灾情况做出了估计，今天中午之前，我们的平民伤亡救援小组将陆续抵达灾区。来自佛罗里达、维吉尼亚和加利福尼亚的搜救组也将在今明两天陆续抵达。更多的救援和医疗设备，以及紧急救护人员正在筹备之中。

 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.

在这样的灾难中，最初的几个小时和几天是抢救生命，避免更大伤亡的关键。我已命令我们的救援组在抵达灾区后及时开展援助，并与国际救援人员进行合作实施救援。

 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.