パキスタン洪水 対テロ前線国に支援を急げ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 22, 2010)
Japan must lose no time in getting aid to Pakistan
パキスタン洪水　対テロ前線国に支援を急げ（8月21日付・読売社説）

Pakistan has been hit by devastating floods said to be the worst in 80 years.
　パキスタンが８０年ぶりという甚大な洪水被害に見舞われている。

It is feared flood damage will continue to spread as monsoon rains are expected to continue through the end of this month.
　雨を降らせるモンスーン（季節風）は今月末まで続き、今後も被害の拡大が懸念される。

In a special meeting Thursday, the U.N. General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution urging member nations to extend emergency relief to the flood-ravaged nation. The meeting was called as international assistance had been insufficient despite the wide extent of the disaster-stricken areas and the seriousness of damage there.
　国連総会が特別会合を開催し、加盟国にパキスタン支援を促す決議を満場一致で採択した。被災地域が広範囲に及び、深刻な被害になっているにもかかわらず、国際的な支援が集まらないためだ。

The United States, which pressed for the U.N. meeting and had already extended 100 million dollars (about 8.5 billion yen) in relief funds for Pakistan, announced that it would contribute an additional 60 million dollars.
　国連会合の開催を主導した米国は、拠出済みの１億ドル（約８５億円）に加え、６０００万ドル（約５１億円）の追加支援をすると表明した。

Pakistan has been at the forefront of the war on terrorism. Islamist militant terrorist groups operating there are trying to seize the opportunity to increase their influence under the guise of disaster relief efforts. The international community must offer immediate relief to prevent this natural disaster from helping the terrorists flourish.
　パキスタンは対テロ戦争の最前線国だ。国内のイスラム系武装テロ組織は、災害支援を口実に影響力を拡大しようと動いている。自然災害がテロを助長することのないよう、国際社会の早急な支援が求められる。

Millions affected

The flood damage was caused by torrential rain that hit the Indus River basin in northwestern Pakistan in late July. Mud slides and flash floods washed away houses and bridges, and roads were submerged across the affected area.
　水害は、パキスタン北西部のインダス川流域を７月下旬に襲った集中豪雨が原因だった。土砂崩れや鉄砲水で、家屋や橋などが流され、道路は各地で水没した。

Damage spread to the middle and lower reaches of the river, killing more than 1,500 people and affecting 20 million people. This means that more than 10 percent of Pakistan's population has been hit by the floods.
　影響は中流や下流域にも及び、死者は１５００人余り、被災者は全体で２０００万人に上る。国民の１割超が被災した勘定だ。

Three weeks after the initial damage, more than 8 million people still need emergency relief as they have lost their homes and possessions.
　発生から３週間を経た今も、全国で８００万人余りが住まいを失うなど支援を必要としている。

Evacuees reportedly are having difficulty obtaining enough food, water and tents. Besides having to endure hot and humid weather, many--especially children and the elderly--are suffering from cholera caused by worsening sanitary conditions. Many are also suffering from malaria.
　避難民は食料や水、テントなどが十分に届かないと訴えている。高温多湿に加え、悪化した衛生状態のため、子供や老人らにコレラやマラリアが発生している。

Given the scale of damage, the United Nations is calling on member nations and relief organizations to extend 460 million dollars in aid. But a number of nations, with their ailing economies, are slow to respond. Aid money offered by the United States, Europe, Australia and some others totals only half the targeted amount.
　国連は今回の被災規模から、４億６０００万ドル（約３９１億円）の支援を各国・機関に呼びかけている。しかし、経済不況のもと、各国とも反応は鈍い。米国、欧州、豪州などを合わせても半分にしかならない。

GSDF to help

Japan's state secretary for foreign affairs, Osamu Fujimura, announced at the meeting that Japan would not only extend 14.4 million dollars but also dispatch a helicopter unit of the Ground Self-Defense Force.
　日本は、国連会合で藤村修外務副大臣が１４４０万ドル（約１２億３０００万円）の支援に加え、陸上自衛隊のヘリコプター部隊を派遣することを表明した。

The helicopter mission is expected to transport relief materials and rescue people isolated in areas where transport systems have been cut off. This aid measure probably will be the best match for the needs in the disaster-hit areas.
　救援物資の輸送や、交通網の寸断で孤立した被災者の救助が期待できる。被災地のニーズに最も合致した支援策といえよう。

The problem is that SDF personnel cannot carry arms with them as the mission is based on the law governing the dispatch of the disaster relief teams. Given the security situation in Pakistan, it cannot be said there is no risk at all for SDF personnel to carry out their mission there.
　課題は国際緊急援助隊派遣法に基づく派遣のため、自衛隊員が武器を携行できないことだ。パキスタンの治安状況を考えれば、全く危険がないとは言い切れない。

We consider it problematic that the law is based on the idea that weapons are unnecessary for natural disaster relief activities. In cooperation with the Liberal Democratic Party, which had been calling for revision of the law in this regard, and others, the government should revise the law so SDF personnel could carry weapons with them during any mission in which security concerns exist.
　「自然災害での支援だから武器は不要のはず」という発想の援助隊法に問題がある。以前から法改正を主張している自民党などと協力し、治安の悪い場所には武器を携行できるよう改めるべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun,Aug. 21, 2010)
（2010年8月21日01時33分 読売新聞）