en-us	West Africa and the Sahel region in particular have long been prone to droughts and food shortages, and over the past decade, rising insecurity. 
zh-cn	问题1：一直以来，非洲西部，尤其是萨赫勒地区饱受干旱和粮食短缺的威胁。过去十年里，当地安全局势更是不断恶化。

en-us	How is the situation now? 
zh-cn	目前的情况如何？ 

en-us	This is a complex region - hit by chronic hunger, insecurity, climate change, the threats of a Desert Locust outbreak, and now the pandemic.  
zh-cn	西非地区受到长期饥饿、不安全和气候变化冲击，面临沙漠蝗灾威胁，现在又遭遇新冠疫情冲击，情况十分复杂。 

en-us	Year after year, five out of the ten countries at the bottom of the UN Development Index are in West Africa. 
zh-cn	多年来，联合国发展指数排名最后的十个国家中，一半位于西非。 

en-us	Right now, we are particularly concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Central Sahel - comprised of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.  
zh-cn	目前，粮农组织特别关注萨赫勒中部地区（布基纳法索、马里和尼日尔）的人道主义危机。 

en-us	Some four million people here are already facing extreme hunger and this could rise to 5.5 million people by August.  
zh-cn	当地目前约有400万人面临极端饥饿。到8月，这一人数可能上升到550万。 

en-us	Just to put it in perspective - by August, in Burkina Faso, over two million people could be facing extreme hunger, and at the worst time - as the lean season sets in and food becomes scarcer. 
zh-cn	我们预计，随着青黄不接的季节很快来临，食物日益稀缺，布基纳法索的极端饥饿人口数量可能在8月份超过200万，是去年同期的三倍。

en-us	This number is three times higher than last year during the same period. 
zh-cn	当地的处境将极为艰难。 

en-us	Across West Africa, as of April, over 11 million people need immediate food assistance - mostly due to conflict.  
zh-cn	截至4月，主要受冲突影响，西非地区有超过1100万人需要立即获得粮食援助。 

en-us	And this number will continue rising, potentially reaching 17 million during the lean season (June- August) if we don't respond fast. 
zh-cn	且人数仍在增长，如果我们不迅速响应，到了青黄不接的时期（6月至8月）可能将有1700万人需要援助。 

en-us	As of now, some 1.2 million people have been displaced in Central Sahel. 
zh-cn	截至目前，萨赫勒中部已有约120万人流离失所。

en-us	If the conflict persists, more people will suffer the same fate.  
zh-cn	如果冲突持续，更多的人将遭受同样的命运。 

en-us	According to the 2020 Global Food Crisis report, increasing violence, displacements and disrupted agriculture and trade in tandem with adverse climate in West Africa and Sahel countries will worsen acute food insecurity conditions in many areas this year. 
zh-cn	根据2020年《全球粮食危机报告》，越发严重的暴力现象、流离失所、农业和贸易遭到破坏，加上不利的气候条件，将在今年导致西非和萨赫勒国家许多地区的重度粮食不安全状况出现恶化。 

en-us	COVID-19 could not have come at a worse time for vulnerable communities across West Africa. 
zh-cn	新冠疫情让原本脆弱的西非民众雪上加霜。 

en-us	Who is most at risk from COVID-19? 
zh-cn	问题2：哪些群体最易受新冠疫情冲击？ 

en-us	First of all: children. 
zh-cn	儿童首当其冲。

en-us	Malnutrition rates in the Sahel are one of the highest in the world.  
zh-cn	萨赫勒是全球营养不良发生率最高的地区之一。 

en-us	Some 2.5 million children - more than a quarter in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger - suffer from severe and acute malnutrition.  
zh-cn	约250万儿童（其中，超过四分之一来自布基纳法索、马里和尼日尔）患有严重和重度营养不良。 

en-us	As mothers and children are the hardest hit, in general, they will also suffer the most during  the pandemic. 
zh-cn	一般而言，母亲和儿童所受冲击最大，因此在疫情期间他们的处境也将最为艰难。 

en-us	Those who are already hungry, or already hungry and displaced, will be at extreme risk. 
zh-cn	那些已经面临饥饿，或者遭受饥饿且无家可归的人面临的风险极高。 

en-us	The key issue to highlight is that the pandemic is expanding during crucial months for this region - when people need to plant, move with their animals.  
zh-cn	需要重点关注的是，疫情暴发的时间恰逢该地区的农忙时节。 

en-us	Farmers need to be able to sell their current produces but also access fields and markets to prepare for the main 2020/2021 agricultural season.  
zh-cn	农户要播种和放牧，要卖掉收获的农产品，还要下地和进行采购，为2020/2021年的主要农业季做准备。 

en-us	Governments and humanitarian actors need to assist people requiring urgent food, nutritional and emergency support during the lean season. 
zh-cn	政府和人道主义行动方需要在青黄不接时接济亟需食物、营养和其他紧急支持的民众。 

en-us	This can lead to herders losing their income as they can't sell their animals or buy what they need for them as well as potentially losing animals as some of them might not survive or might fall ill.  
zh-cn	由于无法出售牲畜或购买必需品，游牧民可能会失去收入，而且由于部分牲畜可能无法存活或染上疫病，畜群数量也会下降。 

en-us	When animals suffer, people suffer. 
zh-cn	牲畜遭难，牧民也难以幸免。 

en-us	When animals die or stop being a source of milk or meat, people go hungry.  
zh-cn	一旦牲畜死亡，没有了牛奶或肉类的来源，牧民就会挨饿。 

en-us	When animals are lost, so are people's livelihoods. 
zh-cn	没了牲畜，牧民也就没了生计。 

en-us	Farmers will also be affected by COVID-19 due to a lower supply of fertilizers and seeds, the closure of stores and markets, and reduced assistance. 
zh-cn	由于新冠疫情导致肥料和种子供应减少，商店和市场关闭，援助缩水，农民也会受到影响。 

en-us	The pandemic - if it spreads further - will translate into increasing threats: from more displacements to less and less access to basic social services, higher food prices, less food.  
zh-cn	如果疫情进一步蔓延，其威胁也将加剧：越来越多的人将无家可归，基本社会服务越来越得不到保障，粮食价格上涨，粮食供应减少。 

en-us	Are COVID-19's impacts on people's food security already being felt in West Africa? 
zh-cn	问题3：疫情是否已经对西非地区的粮食安全产生了影响？ 

en-us	Governments have taken measures such as physical distancing and closure of markets.  
zh-cn	各国政府已采取遏制疫情的措施，如保持社交距离和关闭市场。 

en-us	These will result in market disruptions, whether for traders or buyers. 
zh-cn	这将导致市场无法正常运转，买卖双方均受影响。 

en-us	COVID-19's impacts are already seen in the pastoral areas. 
zh-cn	疫情对牧区的影响已经显现。

en-us	As most borders are closed, movements of herders and animals have been restricted.  
zh-cn	由于大部分边境关闭，牧民和畜群的迁徙受到了限制。 

en-us	Although the pandemic's impact on primary products' prices are not yet discernible, the fact that many people are buying main commodities in bulk could lead to a temporary increase in costs and shortages, which will be difficult to manage as/if production drops.  
zh-cn	尽管疫情对初级产品价格的影响尚不明显，但民众争相大量采购主要商品的做法有可能导致成本上涨和商品短缺现象暂时加剧，一旦或者如果产量下降，这一局面将很难把控。 

en-us	Transport is also already affected, which will impact on food and products' supply. 
zh-cn	运输也已受到影响，会影响粮食和产品的供应。 

en-us	How is FAO responding? 
zh-cn	问题4：粮农组织采取了哪些应对措施？ 

en-us	As most of West Africa is already affected by other complex crises, our first priority is to safeguard and maintain our current emergency response,  
zh-cn	由于西非大部分地区面临其他复杂危机，粮农组织的首要任务是保障和维持当前的应急响应措施， 

en-us	especially activities supporting the upcoming agricultural campaign, which will help mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on food security. 
zh-cn	特别是为即将到来的农业季提供支持，这将有助于减轻疫情对粮食安全的影响。 

en-us	Doing so will be particularly challenging given the operational difficulties due to the movement restrictions introduced by most countries.  
zh-cn	鉴于多数国家出台了限制行动的措施，导致我们难以开展实地行动，粮农组织的援助工作面临特殊挑战。 

en-us	However, working closely with governments, the UN family, and partners, we are recalibrating and finding ways to deliver. 
zh-cn	但是，我们正在与政府、联合国其他机构及合作伙伴密切合作，以重新调整安排并探索新的行动方式。 

en-us	Our response across the region is only funded at 20 percent, however.  
zh-cn	然而，我们在该地区的响应工作的供资仅到位20％。 

en-us	We urge donors and partners to ensure that the ongoing emergencies, on top of COVID-19, are not forgotten. 
zh-cn	我们敦促捐助方及合作伙伴在应对新冠疫情的同时，也不要忘记支持其他应急行动。 

en-us	In response to COVID-19, FAO has been collecting information and carrying out analysis, at regional and country level, on the pandemic's likely consequences on agriculture and food security, which will feed into a global data facility.  
zh-cn	为应对新冠疫情，粮农组织一直在区域和国家层面收集相关信息，并就疫情可能对农业和粮食安全造成的影响进行分析。 

en-us	This is informing the development of national and a regional strategies as well as country specific COVID-19 preparedness and response plans.  
zh-cn	这些信息和分析结果被收录至全球数据库，能够为制定国家和区域战略，以及各国的具体防疫和响应计划提供参考。 

en-us	Several actions in these plans are already being implemented. 
zh-cn	目前，这些计划中的部分行动已付诸实践。 

en-us	In Burkina Faso, FAO is launching a program, thanks to support from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), to provide immediate assistance to vulnerable households living in quarantine in urban and peri-urban areas so they can access healthy and nutritious food. 
zh-cn	在布基纳法索，得益于联合国人道主义事务协调厅中央应急基金的支持，粮农组织正通过应急计划向城市和近郊地区被隔离的脆弱家庭提供即时援助，以便他们可以获取健康和有营养的食物。 

en-us	In Senegal, FAO is supporting government's efforts to fight the pandemic though awareness raising campaigns, particularly for actors along the food chain, to avoid a further spread of the pandemic.  
zh-cn	在塞内加尔，为协助当地政府抗击疫情，粮农组织正在开展宣传工作，以提高各方，特别是粮食链参与方对疫情的认识，避免疫情进一步扩散。 

en-us	We will support small producers affected by trade disruptions, mostly women, to sell their produce, gain sufficient money and prepare for planting.  
zh-cn	我们将支持受贸易中断影响的小型生产者（主要是妇女）出售产品，帮助他们获得足够的资金并为播种做好准备。 

en-us	And we will distribute cash and vouchers to pastoralists so they can feed their animals, and to reduce food waste and loss. 
zh-cn	我们将向牧民分发现金和代金券，供他们购买饲料饲养畜群，还将开展行动减少食物浪费和损失。 

en-us	In the short-term, the priorities are: support vulnerable households affected by COVID-19 to access adequate food;  
zh-cn	短期内，我们的首要措施包括：支持受疫情影响的脆弱家庭获得充足的食物； 

en-us	ensure pastoralists have feed and water during the current dry season, and farmers have seeds to start planting;  
zh-cn	确保牧民在当前旱季获得饲料和水源，确保农民拥有播种所需的种子； 

en-us	ensure social protection during the lean season; and maintain the markets and value chains functional so that people can buy the food they need, and at adequate prices. 
zh-cn	确保在青黄不接时做好社会保障工作；维持市场和价值链的正常运作，使人们能够以合理价格购买所需的食物。 

en-us	FAO experts are also monitoring the Desert Locust situation, as there is some possibility of the pest's incursion into West Africa towards mid-year. 
zh-cn	粮农组织专家还在监测沙漠蝗灾的情况，因为沙漠蝗虫可能会在年中入侵西非。 

en-us	What should governments do? 
zh-cn	问题5：政府应该怎么做？ 

en-us	FAO encourages countries to keep abreast and adapt their response plans to the consequences of the pandemic - as these become better known.  
zh-cn	粮农组织鼓励各国跟踪疫情最新进展，更好地了解疫情可能造成的后果，并调整应对计划。 

en-us	What is crucial is to anticipate COVID-19's impacts on agriculture, food security and the lives of vulnerable women and children.  
zh-cn	预判疫情可能对农业、粮食安全以及脆弱妇女和儿童的生活造成的影响至关重要。 

en-us	Ensuring that food systems and food supply chains are maintained is one of the most important action to take at national and regional levels. 
zh-cn	确保粮食系统和粮食供应链维持正常运作是国家和区域层面的一项首要任务。 

en-us	On 16 April, all 55 member states of the African Union (AU) committed during a meeting by AU-FAO to supporting access to food and nutrition for Africa's most vulnerable;  
zh-cn	4月16日，非洲联盟（非盟）55个成员国在由该非盟和粮农组织共同举办的一次会议上作出承诺：将帮助非洲最弱势人口获取食物和营养； 

en-us	providing social safety nets;  
zh-cn	保障社会安全； 

en-us	minimizing disruptions to the safe movement and transport of essential people, and to the transport and marketing of goods and services;  
zh-cn	尽量减少对必要人员安全流动和出行，以及对货物和服务运输与销售的干扰； 

en-us	and keeping borders open for the food and agriculture trade.  
zh-cn	确保非洲各国边境持续对粮食和农业贸易保持开放。 

en-us	This is a first, crucial step, and FAO is proud to have been part of this processes. 
zh-cn	这是第一步，也是至关重要的一步，粮农组织为有幸参与这一进程而感到自豪。

en-us	What are the biggest challenges for FAO's work if the pandemic worsens? 
zh-cn	问题6：如果疫情恶化，粮农组织面临的最大挑战是什么？ 

en-us	If the pandemic worsens, as many as 50 million more people could face a food crisis in the region. 
zh-cn	如果疫情恶化，该地区可能会有高达五千万人陷入粮食危机。 

en-us	This is why we are scaling up our support through local partners and actors and finding innovative ways, such as online training and remote support, to increase their capacity.  
zh-cn	因此，粮农组织正在通过本地合作伙伴和行动方扩大援助范围，并正在探索通过新方法（如在线培训和远程支持）提高各方能力。 

en-us	We learnt during the Ebola crisis that several activities can be carried out by integrating them into our regular work, whilst respecting additional measures such as health protocols. 
zh-cn	应对埃博拉危机的经验告诉我们，我们可以将一些活动纳入常规工作，同时增加额外措施，例如卫生措施。 

en-us	FAO has activated business continuity plans across all the region with aim of ensuring the safety of its staff, partners and beneficiaries while maintaining activities running.  
zh-cn	粮农组织已在整个地区启动了业务连续性计划，以便在维持各项工作的同时，确保工作人员、合作伙伴和受益人的安全。 

en-us	Anything else you would like to add? 
zh-cn	问题7：您还有什么想要补充的吗？ 

en-us	These are challenging times, but let's not forget that people in West Africa have proven to be resilient in the face of crises.  
zh-cn	当前的形势十分严峻，但我们不应忘记西非人民在面对危机时所展现出的韧性。 

en-us	In fact, FAO's and many other agencies' global approach to COVID-19 is informed by lessons learned from the West Africa Ebola crisis. 
zh-cn	事实上，新冠疫情期间，粮农组织和许多其他机构采取的全球应对措施均借鉴了西非埃博拉危机的经验教训。 

en-us	We also learnt from Ebola that whilst COVID-19 is primarily a health crisis, we must do everything possible to not turn this into a food crisis,  
zh-cn	应对埃博拉的经验还表明，尽管新冠疫情主要是一场卫生危机，但我们必须尽一切可能避免其演变为一场粮食危机。 

en-us	and for many communities in West Africa a larger food crisis. 
zh-cn	与此同时，我们还要为西非诸多社区提供援助，以免当地的粮食危机进一步恶化。 