Take Away English-Britain Doubles Aid to China 英国加倍对华援助

Badly-needed tents have been flown to China's earthquake disaster zone in the latest delivery of aid from Britain.

The first of three jumbo jetloads of 5,000 tents arrived at Chengdu airport and will give shelter to 30,000 people made homeless by the devastation¹.

They were immediately sent by road to be distributed in areas of need in Sichuan Province. An earlier consignment² of 3,000 tents bought in-country arrived in the area on May 20 by rail.

The Chinese ambassador Fu Ying said that she was very grateful for the quick response of Britain in its relief effort:

"We are very grateful to the help offered by the British government. The Prime Minister Gordon Brown came to the embassy. He expressed his condolences and he said Britain is committed with $4m US dollars, half in cash and half in kind".

As well as the government, the British business community, charities and people from all walks of life have showed their support in one way or another.

The Chinese embassy has received £700,000 (RMB 10m) donated by the British public while British companies are making more sizeable donations which have so far amounted to some £5.4m (RMB 81m). Additionally, contributions in kind are also being made by British firms, for example, a fleet of six excavators and supplies of pharmaceuticals³.

Madam Fu Ying said that Britain has assembled a team of doctors experienced in dealing⁴ with earthquakes:

"And there is also a British medical team which has arrived and the embassy is really bombarded by letters of condolences, sympathy, donation. We received altogether £700,000. The Queen also sent a letter of condolences".

GLOSSARY 词汇表

badly-needed 急需的 delivery 递送 devastation 毁坏 consignment 发送 is committed 承诺 half in kind 一半物品 donate 捐献 contributions 贡献 pharmaceuticals 药品 bombarded 频频不断地（收到）

disaster zone 灾区 shelter 掩体；遮盖物 be distributed 分发 condolences 哀悼 half in cash 一半现金 all walks of life 各行各业 amount to 达到 excavators 挖掘机 assemble 组成 sympathy 同情

1 devastation   

n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤

参考例句：

• The bomb caused widespread devastation. 炸弹造成大面积破坏。
• There was devastation on every side. 到处都是破坏的创伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 consignment   

n.寄售；发货；委托；交运货物

参考例句：

• This last consignment of hosiery is quite up to standard.这批新到的针织品完全符合规格。
• We have to ask you to dispatch the consignment immediately.我们得要求你立即发送该批货物。

3 pharmaceuticals   

n.医药品；药物( pharmaceutical的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the development of new pharmaceuticals 新药的开发
• The companies are pouring trillions of yen into biotechnology research,especially for pharmaceuticals and new seeds. 这些公司将大量资金投入生物工艺学研究，尤其是药品和新种子方面。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。