Bill Gates gives 5 billion dollars a year to development aid, making him one of the world's most generous philanthropists.
比尔·盖茨每年捐赠50亿美元用作发展援助资金，他因此成为世界上最慷慨的慈善家之一。
In a speech at London's Royal United Services Institute this week,
本周，他在伦敦的皇家联合服务研究院演讲时表示，
he voiced fears that the political tide is turning against foreign aid.
他担心政治潮流正在反对提供外援。
"It concerns me that some world leaders are interpreting recent events as reasons
“我很担心，一些国家领导人将近来发生的事情作为理由，
to turn inward instead of seeing them for what they are:
将目光转而投向国内，而看不到这些问题的实质：
problems that although they are difficult and will take time, can be solved—
尽管这些问题很艰巨，需要时间，但终归是可以解决的—
if we invest in the long-term solutions that are necessary".
这需要我们致力于寻求必要的长期解决方案”。
The United States remains by far the world's biggest donor, funding long-term programs and emergency relief across the globe
美国仍然是世界上最大的捐助者，为全球的长期发展计划和紧急救援项目提供资金，
such as this 1.8 million-dollar aid package sent to Peru following floods earlier this year.
例如今年早些时候，美国向遭受洪灾的秘鲁提供了180万美元的援助款。

But U.S. President Donald Trump is proposing to cut the 43 billion-dollar foreign aid budget
但是当前，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普提议削减430亿美元的对外援助经费，
as part of efforts to reduce government debt.
以减轻政府部分债务负担。
Gates argues many critics of foreign aid don't realize the huge progress that has been achieved.
盖茨认为，许多对提供外援持批评态度的人们并没有意识到，我们已经取得了巨大进步。
"If you could only pick one number to highlight the effectiveness of the development agenda since 1990,
“如果只能选择一个数字来强调1990年以来发展议程的有效性，
I would pick the number 122 million, that's the number of children's lives that have been saved".
那么我会选择1.22亿。这是这些年来我们救助的儿童数量”。
He disputed the notion that funding foreign aid is a bottomless pit.
他不赞同提供对外援助是无底洞的说法。
"As you bring down that childhood death rate, families choose to have less children.
“当把儿童的死亡率降低时，各家庭会选择少要孩子。
The population goes down very substantially, which brings within reach all of the things society is trying to do:
这样一来，人口会大幅下降，从而实现我们一直努力希望达到的目标：
better health, better education, economic opportunity."
改善医疗条件，提供更好的教育，增加经济机会。”
Bill Gates' speech in London comes as Britain gears up for a snap election in June.
比尔·盖茨在伦敦的演讲，恰逢英国为6月提前举行的大选做加紧筹备工作。
The UK is one of the few developed countries to meet the U.N. aid budget target of 0.7 percent of GDP.
为数不多的几个发达国家达到了联合国官方发展援助目标，即发展援助占国民总收入的0.7%，英国是其中之一。
Current Prime Minister Theresa May has committed to keeping that pledge
英国现任首相特蕾莎·梅表示，将继续履行这一承诺，
but many in her party want aid money diverted to the military.
但是她党内的许多人士都希望将援助资金转用于军队。
Gates said he wanted to make the case for the facts.
盖茨说他要为事实作出辩护。
"When aid is mismanaged, it is a double crime, stealing both from the taxpayer and the poor.
“援助管理不善，就会造成双重犯罪行为，窃取的不仅有纳税人的钱，还有穷人的钱。
But let's be clear, the bulk of this aid is getting to its recipients and having an incredible effect.
但我们要明确一点，大部分援助能到达被援助对象手中，并产生令人难以置信的影响。
There will always be a need to adjust, we're working in very tough countries, and so you'll never get 100 percent perfect effectiveness.
总会需要调整改进。我们所援助的国家面临的发展问题都比较棘手，所以永远都不会得到100％的完美效果。
But you can learn, and every year, the aid is better spent".
但我们还是要学习。这样，对外援助的钱才会一年比一年花得好”。
Aid agencies say the debate couldn't come at a worse time, with around 65 million refugees around the world,
援助机构认为，此时争论是否应该削减对外援助预算简直再糟糕不过了，这是因为，全球范围内还有约6500万难民，
worsening conflicts in the Middle East and famine striking East Africa.
中东地区冲突仍在加剧，而东非正面临严重饥荒。
Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, London.
VOA新闻，亨利·里奇韦尔于伦敦为您播报。