救生援助到达海啸受灾区域

 

Reaching Tsunami¹ Victims with Lifesaving Aid

救生援助到达海啸受灾区域

 

The tsunami that struck on Sunday spread a ring of destruction that stretches from Southeast Asia to Africa. Relief efforts continue to grow, with many countries, including the United States, promising² even more assistance in the weeks and months ahead.

 

Food, medicine and other desperately³ needed items have started to arrive in countries hardest hit by the tsunami, in what the United Nations describes as the largest relief operation the world has ever seen.

 

The global body has sent disaster assessment⁴ teams to the affected⁵ countries and relief organizations are distributing supplies.

 

Andrew Natsios, Administrator⁶ of the U.S. Agency for International Development, says the technical teams play a critical roll assessing the precise help that will do the most good.

 

Andrew Natsios: We must respond to the needs assessed by technical experts on the ground or we are going to kill people. Rumors⁸ do not help us provide assistance to people. Only reports from technical experts will be used to make these judgments⁹."

 

Dozens of countries and relief groups around the world have already pledged tens of millions of dollars. In addition, many nations are sending emergency supplies directly to the disaster zones.

 

Ed Fox, Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, told VOA that emergency supplies prepositioned by the United States began arriving in the affected areas on Wednesday. 

 

Ed Fox: With planes loaded with plastic sheeting for shelter, with water bladders and water cans to get fresh water to people, with healthcare supplies and things of that nature. And, tragically¹⁰, also with body bags for the sad aspects of this tragedy, the loss of human life.

 

In addition, the Pentagon is sending aircraft and naval¹¹ vessels¹³ for the relief effort. According to General James Conway, Director of Operations for the Joint¹⁴ Chiefs of Staff, several ships are equipped with desalination¹⁵ equipment.

 

James Conway: Each ship can produce 90,000 gallons of fresh water a day, and, of course, that will be extremely valuable as we have a number of requests already for fresh water supplies.

 

With such widespread destruction, relief workers are racing¹⁶ to prevent an outbreak of disease and famine among the millions of homeless. Jan Egeland, the U.N.’s Emergency relief coordinator¹⁷, says disease could kill as many as the tsunami.

 

Jan Egeland: Still, the biggest challenge is the water and the sanitation¹⁸, and the emergency food and the emergency shelter for hundreds of thousands of homeless.

 

Mr. Egeland estimates the disaster will cost billions of dollars. He said the world body will issue a formal appeal for international contributions next week.

 

Jim Bertel, VOA news.

 

注释：

desperately [5despEritli] adv. 极需要地

describe as 描述为

rumor⁷ [5ru:mE] n. 流言，传闻

pledge [pledV] vt. 保证

affected area（台风等）被影响地区

bladder [5blAdE] n. 气泡

naval vessel¹² 海军舰艇

desalination [di:7sAli5neiFEn] n. 减少盐分，脱盐作用

sanitation [sAni5teiFEn] n. 卫生，卫生设施

1 tsunami   

n.海啸

参考例句：

• Powerful quake sparks tsunami warning in Japan.大地震触发了日本的海啸预警。
• Coastlines all around the Indian Ocean inundated by a huge tsunami.大海啸把印度洋沿岸地区都淹没了。

2 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

3 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

4 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

5 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。

6 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

7 rumor   

n.谣言，谣传，传说

参考例句：

• The rumor has been traced back to a bad man.那谣言经追查是个坏人造的。
• The rumor has taken air.谣言流传开了。

8 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 judgments   

判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判

参考例句：

• A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life. 他对现代生活的批评带着一种特殊的苛刻。
• He is swift with his judgments. 他判断迅速。

10 tragically   

adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地

参考例句：

• Their daughter was tragically killed in a road accident. 他们的女儿不幸死于车祸。
• Her father died tragically in a car crash. 她父亲在一场车祸中惨死。

11 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

12 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

13 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

14 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

15 desalination   

n.脱盐(作用)

参考例句：

• Crops can be grown on this land after desalination. 这片土地经过脱盐就可以种植庄稼了。
• One source is by desalination-taking the salt out of salt water to make it drinkable. 淡水的来源之一是使水淡化--把含盐的水中的盐份去掉，使之能够饮用。

16 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

17 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

18 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。