英语听力精选进阶版 7293（在线收听）

海地霍乱受害者向联合国下达了最后通牒。受害者说如果联合国在未来60天内不展开有关索赔的谈话，他们将采取法律行动。受害者指责联合国维和部队的士兵将霍乱病菌带进了海地并污染了其水源。

The cholera epidemic began in Haiti near a camp for UN soldiers where there were leaking sewage pipes. Some human waste was also dumped outside the camp near a river. One of the UN's own experts on cholera, Danielle Lantagne, told the BBC it was "most likely" the disease originated in the UN camp. It housed UN soldiers from Nepal, where cholera is endemic.

The UN rejected an earlier call for compensation in this unprecedented case against the world body, saying it was immune from such claims. But the victims' lawyers say the UN is breaking international law. If mediation talks don't begin within 60 days, the lawyers say, they'll open legal proceedings in New York with claims totalling many billions of dollars.

The lawyers say they'll file claims for $100,000 for the families of those who have lost a loved one and $50,000 for every one of the hundreds of thousands of people who have fallen sick. The UN has said very little on the matter, apart from to insist it is immune from legal proceedings. At the same time it may also be true that the United Nations simply doesn't know what to do in the face of what could have been a series of catastrophic and deadly errors. In private, UN officials say they're facing a moral crisis. Now they may be about to confront a very public legal battle as well.

Quiz 听力测验

Where did the Haiti cholera epidemic begin?

Near a camp for UN soldiers.

True or false? Nepal has no reported cases of cholera.

False. Cholera is endemic in Nepal.

Which phrase means 'conversations to help reach an agreement'?

Mediation talks.

How much money will lawyers claim for families of people who have died of cholera?

$100,000.

Glossary 词汇表

cholera 霍乱

epidemic 流行病，疫情

sewage 污水

originated 来自

endemic 常见的，流行的

unprecedented 前所未有的，没有先例的

immune 免除的，豁免的

mediation talks 调节谈判

to insist 坚持，强调

catastrophic 灾难性的