President Obama's remarks on the earthquake in Haiti

在加勒比岛国海地本月12日发生强烈地震后，国际社会纷纷伸出援手，表示将向海地提供人道主义援助。美国总统奥巴马13日就海地遭遇强震发表讲话，承诺美国将迅速积极反应，全力帮助海地救灾。以下是他讲话的全文。

Here are President Obama’s remarks Wednesday morning on the earthquake in Haiti and rescue efforts, as released by the White House.

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.

中文译文：

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。

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。

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。#p#分页标题#e#

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。

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。

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。

第三，鉴于所需救援物资种类繁多，我们正采取措施，确保美国政府统一行动。我们的国家安全人员连夜带头开展部际合作。为确保救援行动协调、顺利进行，我已任命美国国际开发署署长拉吉夫•夏哈担任美国政府救灾行动总指挥。

此次救灾和灾后重建工作将非常复杂，极具挑战。在我们向海地运送救灾人员和物资的过程中，我们将与地面人员紧密配合，包括海地的很多非政府组织，在此次地震中伤亡惨重的联合国海地稳定特派团以及我们在该地区和世界各地的合作机构等等。这是一次真正的国际合作行动。

最后，我想说明一点，这次灾难提醒了我们共同拥有的人性。美国和海地之间相隔只有几百公里的海洋，悠久的历史将我们两国联系在一起。海地人民是美国人民的邻居，这里就如同他们的家乡，所以在他们需要帮助的紧急时刻，我们要伸出援手。

尽管美国国内的境况也很艰难，我仍要鼓励那些有意进行紧急人道主义援助的美国人民登陆白宫网站，了解如何捐赠。在了解到灾害的严重程度之后，我们必须提前为今后救灾的种种困难做好准备。我们将为遇难者和他们的家人祈祷。我们将以坚决果敢的姿态实施救援行动。我向海地人民保证，不管今天，还是今后，美国都是你们的朋友和伙伴。

愿上帝保佑海地人民，和在海地的救援人员。

非常感谢。