微信扫一扫
NASA researchers have estimated that the force of the volcanic eruption that took place on Saturday near the island nation of Tonga was equivalent to 10 megatons of TNT, which means it was more than 500 times as powerful as the nuclear bomb the United States dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. .
美国国家航空航天局的研究人员估计，周六发生在汤加岛国附近的火山爆发的力量相当于10兆吨TNT，这意味着它的威力是美国在日本广岛投下的核弹的500多倍。
Three of Tonga's smaller islands suffered serious damage from tsunami waves up to 15 meters high and according to United Nations humanitarian officials about 84,000 people, more than 80 percent of Tonga's population, have been impacted by the volcano's eruption. On Wednesday, the prime minister declared a state of emergency.
In a message to King of Tonga Tupou VI the same day, President Xi Jinping said he was shocked to learn of the natural disaster. Extending sincere sympathies to the Tongan government and people on behalf of the Chinese government and people, and in his own name, he promised that China will do its best to help. That help is already materializing. On Monday, the Red Cross Society of China provided $100,000 in emergency assistance to Tonga. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that China had prepared disaster-relief materials such as drinking water, food, personal protective equipment, as well as rescue devices, and the materials will be arriving now that Tonga's airport is operational again.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, citing Tongan authorities, has said that the most pressing humanitarian needs are safe water, food and non-food items, and the top priorities are reestablishing communication services including the internet.
China and Tonga are comprehensive strategic partners, and Xi said that China stands ready to provide as much support as possible to help the Tongan people prevail over the disaster.
汤加的三个较小的岛屿遭受了高达15米的海啸浪潮的严重破坏，据联合国人道主义官员称，约有84,000人，即汤加人口的80%以上，受到了火山爆发的影响。周三，总理宣布进入紧急状态。
同一天，习近平主席在给汤加国王图普六世的电文中说，他对获悉这一自然灾害感到震惊。他代表中国政府和人民，并以自己的名义向汤加政府和人民表示诚挚的同情，承诺中国将尽最大努力提供帮助。这种帮助已经在实现了。周一，中国红十字会向汤加提供了10万美元的紧急援助。周二，外交部表示，中国已经准备了饮用水、食品、个人防护设备以及救援设备等救灾物资，现在汤加的机场已经恢复运行，这些物资将陆续抵达。
联合国人道主义事务协调办公室援引汤加当局的话说，最紧迫的人道主义需求是安全饮水、食品和非食品物品，而最优先的事项是重建包括互联网在内的通信服务。
中国和汤加是全面战略伙伴，习近平表示，中国随时准备提供尽可能多的支持，帮助汤加人民战胜灾难。
Besides China, the international community has been rallying to provide assistance to Tonga, proving once again that when it comes to natural disasters, at least, there are no barriers of race, language or ideology. There is only unity and the joining of hands.
Volcanic eruptions are only one type of natural disaster, of course, and climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of others. The rising temperatures are driving up sea levels, worsening the impacts of tsunamis and storm surges on low-lying islands and coastal areas.
China is doing its best to help developing countries build capacity against climate change through various forms of results-oriented South-South cooperation, and this cooperation has yielded tangible results. But more concerted efforts are needed to curb the rise in global temperatures, as the world's actions so far fall well short of what is needed.
As Xi said in his speech at the Leaders Summit on Climate in April last year, "When people pull together, nothing is too heavy to be lifted". Although climate change is a pressing, formidable and long-term challenge, it can be overcome with the same kind of solidarity and mutual assistance being demonstrated in the helping hands reaching out to assist the people of Tonga in their time of need.
除了中国，国际社会一直在团结起来向汤加提供援助，再次证明，至少在自然灾害方面，没有种族、语言或意识形态的障碍。有的只是团结和联手。
当然，火山爆发只是自然灾害的一种类型，气候变化正在增加其他灾害的频率和严重性。气温上升使海平面上升，加剧了海啸和风暴潮对低洼岛屿和沿海地区的影响。
中国正在尽最大努力，通过各种形式的以结果为导向的南南合作，帮助发展中国家建设应对气候变化的能力，这种合作已经取得了切实的成果。但是，需要更多的共同努力来遏制全球气温的上升，因为迄今为止世界上的行动远远没有达到需要的程度。
正如习近平在去年4月的气候问题领导人峰会上的讲话中所说，"只要人们齐心协力，没有什么东西是举不起来的"。尽管气候变化是一个紧迫的、巨大的和长期的挑战，但通过在汤加人民需要时伸出援助之手所表现出的同样的团结和互助，它可以被克服。
