欧盟宣布给海地近五百万美元援助

欧盟表示，它将为海地提供将近500万美元的援助，帮助海地人克服节节上涨的食品价格所造成的困难。海地是西半球最贫穷的一个国家，欧盟的援助使海地在其它国际机构提供援助的基础上又获得了一笔资金。

Announced at a press conference in Brussels Tuesday, the $4.6 million in aid to Haiti brings to more than $12 million the European Union has earmarked for Haiti this year. The EU says the assistance will help provide food, health care, clean water and hygiene to about 1.5 million people in Haiti and will focus on women, children and small farms.

欧盟星期二在记者会上宣布给海地460万美元的援助，从而把欧盟今年专门给海地的援助资金增加到1200多万美元。欧盟表示，这项援助用来给大约150万海地人提供食品、医疗保健、洁净水和改善卫生条件，重点是妇女、儿童和小型农场。

John Clancy, spokesman for the European Commission - the EU's executive branch - says the assistance comes on top of other international aid for Haiti. On Monday, the U.N.'s Food and Agricultural Organization announced it was distributing seeds and tools to thousands of Haitian farmers.

欧盟的行政部门，欧盟委员会发言人约翰.克兰西说，海地已经得到其它的国际援助，欧盟的援助又给海地增加了一笔资金。星期一，联合国粮农组织宣布向数千名海地农民分发种子和农具。

"Three million to address the continued social and economic situation particularly for the vulnerable populations on the island," said Clancy. "Haiti, as you're aware, is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. The instability there has of course compounded the difficult situation the population has been facing, particularly since April troubles linked to the increase in food prices globally and particularly in Haiti."

克兰西说：“三百万美元用来解决海地持续不断的社会和经济问题，特别是海地弱势人口面临的问题。正如大家所知，海地是西半球最贫穷的国家。当然，那里的局势不稳使得海地人民的困难更加复杂化。全球粮食价格不断上涨，尤其是在海地，从而在4月份发生了暴乱。自那时以来，困难更为严重。”

Soaring food prices led to deadly riots in Haiti in April that forced the country's prime minister to resign. Experts say the political void compounded Haiti's problems, leaving the Caribbean country unable to sign foreign aid deals. Relief agencies have complained of problems shipping food and supplies to Haiti. The situation has become so dire that there are reports of people eating mud cakes in some slums.

飞涨的食品价格使得海地在4月发生暴乱，造成人员伤亡，海地总理被迫辞职。专家指出，政治真空使得海地的问题更为复杂，这个加勒比国家因此无法签署外国援助协议。救援机构抱怨向海地运送食品和其它物资面临种种问题。现在情况已经变得十分糟糕，以致有消息说，有些贫民窟的人在用泥饼充饥。

Relief workers hope matters will be eased with the Haitian senate's ratification of Michele Pierre-Louis as the country's new prime minister last week, making her only the second woman to hold that office in Haiti.

海地参议院上星期批准米歇尔.皮埃尔-路易斯担任新总理，救援人员希望海地的局面会有所缓解。皮埃尔-路易斯是海地第二位女总理。

Spiraling food prices have led to hard times and unrest in a number of developing countries. Last month, the European Commission approved a plan to give $1.5 billion to farmers in Africa to cope with high food prices and boost production of food crops there.

不断上涨的粮食价格使一些发展中国家的日子非常艰难，并引发动乱。上个月，欧盟委员会批准向非洲农民提供15亿美元的计划，帮助那里的人民克服粮食涨价的困难和提高农作物的产量。