[ti:Poorer Nations Face Bigger Risk in Easing Coronavirus Restrictions] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:02.16]Some wealthier Western nations have begun easing restrictions to guard against the new coronavirus. [00:12.12]Many developing countries want to ease their coronavirus restrictions, [00:17.88]but they cannot afford to make a mistake. [00:22.04]Developing countries often lack the necessary tools, such as a strong economy, [00:28.88]good hospitals and the ability to do a lot of testing. [00:35.12]They need these things to overcome the pandemic. [00:39.28]Across Europe, people have been debating how best to ease the restrictions. [00:46.44]Yet such a debate seems unthinkable in countries affected by conflict, corruption or poverty. [00:55.96]Lebanon, for example, is a small country with a huge amount of debt. [01:02.16]It has a weak health care system and an angry population. [01:08.48]A month of coronavirus restrictions has sent tens of thousands more Lebanese into poverty. [01:17.44]The government is under pressure to ease some of the restrictions. [01:22.84]Medical supplies are so limited, however, that doctors are calling for the measures to stay in place. [01:31.56]Lebanon was one of the first countries in the Middle East to close schools and restaurants because of the virus. [01:40.80]On March 16, Lebanon entered a total lockdown until April 26. [01:48.12]Its prime minister asked for patience as the country faced an "enormous economic price." [01:56.28]The International Monetary Fund reported last week that Lebanon's economy [02:02.76]may shrink by as much as 12 percent in 2020. [02:08.12]That would be the largest economic downturn in the Middle East. [02:13.40]The situation is similar in many other developing countries: [02:18.72]Easing lockdowns could increase infections and set off a serious medical crisis. [02:26.92]At the same time, keeping restrictions in place risks more economic losses and social unrest. [02:36.64]The inability to test and a government unwilling to be truthful [02:41.76]could lead to bad decisions, warns Rabah Arezki. [02:47.76]He is chief economist for the Middle East and North Africa at the World Bank. [02:55.16]Arezki worries that easing restrictions too early could do "more harm than good" [03:02.16]because there is a lack of clear information, he explained. [03:07.44]Even wealthier nations are also worried. [03:11.20]Germany has Europe's largest economy. [03:14.64]Last week, German officials announced a small easing of restrictions, [03:20.00]which includes reopening most stores. [03:24.24]But Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that restarting the economy too quickly [03:31.16]could lead to problems with the health care system. [03:35.80]Western nations are facing severe economic problems, [03:40.12]but their effects are eased by large government financial aid programs. [03:46.64]For example, the United States has a $2.2 trillion program. [03:54.92]The EU countries have agreed on a $550 billion program. [04:01.92]The international community is offering help to poorer nations. [04:08.00]The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it is prepared to lend $1 trillion to poor nations. [04:18.44]The world's richest countries agreed to temporarily suspend poor nations' debts, mainly in Africa. [04:27.28]Pakistan's prime minister has appealed to wealthy countries and international organizations [04:34.56]to simply forgive the debts of poorer countries. [04:39.12]The IMF gave Pakistan $1.5 billion in emergency financing to help with the pandemic. [04:49.76]Some developing nations have decided they can no longer wait and are lifting restrictions for some industries. [04:59.56]In Malaysia, the government permitted its semiconductor and other major industries to continue operating. [05:09.16]Colombia permitted coal producer Drummond to restart part of its operations on April 9. [05:17.56]In Yemen, Libya and Syria, years of conflict have led to humanitarian disasters. [05:25.96]In all three countries, the level of coronavirus outbreak is unknown. [05:32.12]There is a lack of testing, medical supplies and trained health care workers. [05:39.64]I'm Jill Robbins. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM