2017年CRI China donates 30 tons of food to drought-hit Kenya

 

Camel herders scoop¹ up water in plastic buckets from one of the few watering holes in the area, to water their animals near the drought-affected² village of Bandarero, near Moyale town on the Ethiopian border, in northern Kenya, Friday, March 3, 2017. [Photo: AP]

The Chinese government is stepping in to help drought-stricken areas in Kenya, delivering 30 tons of food aid to the east African country.

One of the most severe drought-stricken areas of Kenya is Makueni County, where failed crops and dying livestock³ have led to a severe food shortage.

Kenyan parliamentarian Richard Makenga said the 30 tons of food and water provided by the Kenya-China Chamber⁴ of Commerce is a welcome relief for communities there.

"The group affected most is of course the elderly people who depend on very small acreage of land, even a quarter an acre where they plant maize⁵ and beans, but there's nothing that came out of that shamba, so they are in dire⁶ need," said Makenga.

According to Yao Ming, Counselor⁷ to Chinese Embassy in Nairobi, the donation is meant to repay Kenya's kindness for providing assistance in the deadly Wenchuan Earthquake in 2008.

"Nine years ago when China suffered from an earthquake, and African countries including Kenyan people offered their generous hands to Chinese people. We still remember the vivid moment. So today, we are coming to return your favor. We are ready and willing to help you," said Yao.

Kenya is one of several countries in Africa affected by a lingering drought.

Famine conditions have already been declared in parts of South Sudan. Parts of Ethiopia and Somalia are also struggling through drought conditions.

The UN is warning that more than 2.7 million people are severely⁸ food insecure in the region, suggesting the number of people facing hunger could rise without more international assistance.

Counselor Yao Ming says China stands ready to help in any way it can.

"My embassy will be mobilizing the Chinese community here to do more donations to other regions of Kenya which have been affected by drought. This is just a small step, the first step for the Chinese community to make their contribution on real efforts. We are going to do more in the coming weeks and in the coming months," Yao added.

The Kenyan government has already declared the current drought a national disaster.

1 scoop   

n.铲子，舀取，独家新闻；v.汲取，舀取，抢先登出

参考例句：

• In the morning he must get his boy to scoop it out.早上一定得叫佣人把它剜出来。
• Uh,one scoop of coffee and one scoop of chocolate for me.我要一勺咖啡的和一勺巧克力的。

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

4 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

5 maize   

n.玉米

参考例句：

• There's a field planted with maize behind the house.房子后面有一块玉米地。
• We can grow sorghum or maize on this plot.这块地可以种高粱或玉米。

6 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

7 counselor   

n.顾问，法律顾问

参考例句：

• The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。
• Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。

8 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。