10-14-2005

巴基斯坦找到更多地震倖存者的希望變渺茫 (Hope Dwindles For Finding More Quake Survivors In Pakistan)

在巴基斯坦，隨著尋找上星期大地震倖存者的希望越來越渺茫，救援隊伍準備開始把注意力轉向救災和重建。

專家們星期五說，這次造成至少2萬5千人死亡的7.6級大地震過後將近一個星期，找到倖存者的希望微乎其微。同時，巴基斯坦星期五早上又有強烈余震發生。當地氣象官員說，類似這種地震活動可能要持續幾個月。

另外，聯合國呼籲對巴基斯坦的地震災民給予更多的援助。聯合國緊急事務協調人埃格蘭說，還需要更多的食品、水和帳篷以及能夠進入邊遠地區的直升機。聯合國官員估計有大約2百萬人在地震後無家可歸。

在印控克什米爾地區，官員說死亡人數在1千4百人。

Rescue teams in Pakistan are preparing to shift their focus to recovery and relief operations as hope dwindles that more survivors of last week's devastating earthquake will be found.

Experts said Friday chances were very slim of survival nearly a week after the massive seven-point-six magnitude quake that killed at least 25-thousand people. Meanwhile, Pakistan was jolted early Friday by another strong aftershock. Local meteorological officials say such seismic activity could continue for months.

Separately, the United Nations has called for more aid for earthquake survivors in Pakistan. U.N. Emergency Coordinator Jan Egeland said more food, water and tents were needed, as well as helicopters to reach remote areas. U.N. officials estimate about two million people have been homeless since the quake.

In Indian Kashmir, officials say 14-hundred people were killed.

憲法公投前夕伊拉克基本平靜 (Iraq Mostly Quiet Ahead of Constitutional Referendum)

伊拉克首都巴格達街頭星期五基本平靜。在全國就憲法草案舉行公民投票的前夕，各類保安措施開始生效。

在伊拉克巴股拜、基爾庫克和巴格達發生的零星暴力襲擊使4名警察喪生，還有另外幾個人受傷。反叛分子還在最大的遜尼派阿拉伯人政黨在巴格達的總部製造了爆炸事件，並且在巴格達郊外該黨另一個辦公處縱火。這顯然是報復伊拉克伊斯蘭黨關於支援憲法議案的決定。

美國軍方一位發言人說，在今年1月議會選舉前，暴力襲擊的數量也曾有所下降。但是，他說，伊拉克政府軍和聯軍都將保持高度戒備。星期六，伊拉克將開放大約6千個投票中心，供人們對新憲法議案進行表決。

Streets in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, are mostly quiet Friday, as security measures take effect on the eve of a nationwide constitutional referendum.

There were some sporadic incidents of violence, which killed four policemen and injured several Iraqis in Baquba, Kirkuk and Baghdad. Insurgents also bombed the Baghdad headquarters of the largest Sunni Arab political party and set fire to another of its offices outside the city. It was in apparent retaliation for the Iraqi Islamic Party's decision to support the constitution.

A U.S. military spokesman said the number of attacks is down over the same period before the January parliamentary elections, but he said Iraqi and coalition forces remain vigilant. Some six thousand polling centers will be open across Iraq Saturday for people to cast their vote for or against the new constitution.