(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
UN: Half of Myanmar's Population May Fall into Poverty by 2022
The United Nations says the effects of Myanmar's political crisis and the coronavirus could push half the country's population into poverty by 2022.
The warning came in a report released last week by the U.N.'s Development Program (UNDP). It said as many as 25 million people, or nearly half the population, is in danger of dropping into poverty.
Both COVID-19 and the country's ongoing political crisis "are pushing the most vulnerable back and more deeply into poverty," the UNDP's Kanni Wignaraja told Reuters. She is Assistant U.N. Secretary-General and leads UNDP's operations in Asia.
The report noted that from 2005 to 2017, Myanmar was able to reduce its poverty level by about 50 percent. But those development gains are now "being erased in a matter of months," Wignaraja said.
Without a working democracy, "Myanmar faces a tragic and avoidable backslide towards levels of poverty not seen in a generation," UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner said in a statement.
Myanmar's political crisis began when the military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1. The government has used deadly force against individuals protesting against the military overthrow. Activist groups say more than 750 civilians have been killed in demonstrations across the country.
Before the military takeover, Myanmar citizens were struggling financially because of the coronavirus pandemic. The report showed that by the end of 2020, about 83 percent of families reported their incomes had been cut nearly in half because of the health crisis.
The report estimates that the number of people in Myanmar living below the poverty line increased 11 percent by the end of 2020. It adds that the country's poverty rate could rise an additional 12 percent.
Among the reasons for expected increases in poverty include Myanmar's worsening security situation and threats to human rights since the military takeover of the government. The report said poverty in the nation's cities was expected to increase by 200 percent.
Wignaraja said women and children are most affected by the country's continuing health and political crises. "Half of all children in Myanmar could be living in poverty within a year."
The report said security issues have severely restricted the movement of people, services, and goods, including agricultural products. In addition, pressure on Myanmar's currency, the Kyat, has increased the price of imports and energy.
The country's banking system is also weak. This has resulted in money shortages and limited availability to government assistance payments and remittance services.
The U.N. said that before the latest crises, nearly 1 million people in Myanmar had already been identified as needing humanitarian assistance and protection.
"As stated by the U.N. secretary-general, the scale of the crisis requires an urgent and unified international response," Wignaraja said.
I'm Bryan Lynn.
重点解析
重点讲解：
1. in danger of 危险；
The building is in danger of collapsing.
这栋建筑有垮塌的危险。
2. be able to do sth. 可以…的，能够…的；
He should be able to lead a perfectly normal life.
他应该能够过上完全正常的生活。
3. in addition 另外；加之；除…之外；
Part-time English classes are offered. In addition, students can take classes in word-processing and computing.
开设了非全日制的英语班。另外，学生可以修读文字处理和计算机课程。
4. result in 导致；引起；造成；
Fifty per cent of road accidents result in head injuries.
50%的道路交通事故都会导致头部损伤。
参考译文
联合国称到2022年缅甸半数人口可能陷入贫困
联合国表示，缅甸政治危机和冠状病毒的影响可能会在2022年前使该国半数人口陷入贫困。
联合国开发计划署（简称UNDP）在上周发布的报告中发出这一警告。报告称，多达2500万人——或占该国人口的近一半，正处于陷入贫困的危险之中。
联合国开发计划署的坎尼·维格纳拉贾对路透社记者表示，新冠肺炎和缅甸持续的政治危机“正在将最脆弱人群推回贫困的深渊”。她是联合国助理秘书长，负责联合国开发计划署在亚洲的工作。
报告指出，2005年到2017年，缅甸设法使贫困人口减少了约一半。但维格纳拉贾表示，这些发展成果将在“几个月内被抹去”。
联合国开发计划署署长阿希姆·施泰纳发表声明表示，如果没有行之有效的民主制度，“缅甸将面临可悲的、本可以避免的倒退，而且是向一代人都未曾见过的贫困水平倒退。”
缅甸的政治危机始于2月1日，当时军方推翻了民选的昂山素季政府。之后，政府对抗议军事推翻行动的个人使用了致命武力。维权组织表示，缅甸各地有超过750名平民在示威中丧生。
在军事接管之前，缅甸公民已因冠状病毒疫情而陷入经济困境。报告显示，截至2020年底，约83%的家庭报告称，这场健康危机导致他们的收入减少了近一半。
报告估计，截至2020年底，缅甸生活在贫困线以下的人数增加了11%。报告还指出，该国的贫困率可能会再上升12%。
预计贫困人口会增加的原因包括，缅甸自军方接管政府以来日益恶化的安全局势以及对人权的威胁。报告表示，缅甸各城市的贫困人口预计将增加200%。
维格纳拉贾表示，受该国持续的健康和政治危机影响最大的是女性和儿童。“缅甸可能有半数儿童在一年内生活在贫困之中。”
报告表示，安全问题严重限制了人员、服务和农产品等货物的流动。此外，缅甸货币缅元面临的压力导致进口产品和能源价格上涨。
该国的银行体系也很薄弱。这导致资金短缺，政府援助付款和汇款服务受限。
联合国表示，在最近的危机发生之前，缅甸已有近100万人被确定需要人道主义援助和保护。
维格纳表示，“正如联合国秘书长所说，这场危机的规模需要国际社会作出紧急和统一的反应。”
布莱恩·林恩报道。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
