泰国遭海啸侵袭地区继续努力重建家园

Struggle Continues for Thais in Tsunami¹-Hit Regions

泰国遭海啸侵袭地区继续努力重建家园

 

Almost three months after the Indian Ocean tsunami crashed into the shores of Southern Thailand, many in the hardest-hit areas are still struggling to rebuild their lives and communities.

 

Sarot Gaowbadit is repairing his fleet of deep-sea fishing boats, all badly damaged in last December's tsunami. His village, Baan Nam Khem, lost 90 boats, both big sea-going vessels³ and small coastal⁴ boats, when the waves hit.

 

Baan Nam Khem is in the Khao Lak region of Thailand's Phang Nga province on the Andaman Sea, one of the areas hardest hit by the massive waves on December 26.

 

Each of Mr. Sarot's boats is worth $25,000 or more, but he says, he is doing the repair work with little government help.

 

The Thai government is paying 100 percent compensation to owners of smaller vessels, but deep-sea fishing boat owners are only receiving aid equal to 10 percent of a boat's value. The government says that the owners of small boats are usually very poor, while owners of bigger vessels have greater resources.

 

Mr. Sarot however says he faces financial difficulties as a result of the heavy repair costs.

 

Mr. Sarot says he has spent almost $8,000 repairing just one boat, but the government has only given him $500, $250 for repairs and another $250 to buy household items, such as a refrigerator, fans, and bedding.

 

He has little equipment for repairs and is in debt to a shop where he bought new tools worth $300 on credit.

 

Khao Lak bore the full force of the tsunami, which in Phang Nga Province claimed more than 4,000 lives. Altogether, more than 8,000 people in Thailand died or disappeared in the disaster.

 

Although tens of millions of dollars in government and private aid has been promised, many survivors⁵ in Thailand say they have yet to receive assistance.

 

Utsanee Bangavijit had a street stall in Baan Nam Khem before the tsunami washed it away. She is angry that people like her have received almost nothing to help them return to their livelihoods⁷.

 

She says the government helps the owners of fishing boats, but no one is helping⁸ the street sellers, and she wonders when she will receive any aid.

 

Thai officials say they are doing everything they can. But they say they have received false compensation claims, and therefore aid applicants⁹ must provide what they call "solid documentation" before they can get help.

 

Orapin Dawson, a British-based education consultant¹⁰, has visited relief centers to learn how her organization, The Anglo-Thai Society in Britain, can help. Mrs. Dawson says there appears to be considerable confusion over how to get government funds.

 

Orapin Dawson: Even when they are told by the government that they can have 20,000 baht [$500] to repair something, they do not know where to apply, they do not even know how to apply. And you have got to have documents they not have because they have been washed [away]. If you do not have it, you do not get it, and that is sad really.

 

Watcharee Luangow is one of those who lost crucial documents about her home and her family. The 34-year-old woman, whose family has lived in Baan Nam Khem for more than 20 years, says she is fearful for her future.

 

Mrs. Watcharee says she lost her home and has no job, but still needs to find the money to send her children to school.

 

She is among the dozens of people living in temporary housing at a temple in her village.

 

Anne Mathuros Bhucharoen is a manager with an Internet community assistance project that helps market hand-made products to boost Khao Lak's economy. She says there is an urgent need for aid.

 

Anne Mathuros Bhucharoen: The fisherman village, all they need is equipment and also some money to start up their new life – urgently. They were told they would have some money coming, but they are not sure where to get or when to get [it]. So meanwhile, they need to provide for themselves in order to earn their living for fishing.

 

There are signs of progress. On March 13, the Royal Thai Army handed over to Baan Nam Khem residents more than 100 new permanent houses it had built. They were the first batch¹¹ of 800 to be built under a government program.

 

The ceremony marked at least one step on the road to recovery from the trauma¹² of the December tragedy.

 

Ron Corben for VOA news, Bangkok.

 

注释：

vessel² [5vesl] n. 船

compensation [kCmpen5seiFEn] n. 补偿，赔偿

livelihood⁶ [5laivlihud] n. 生计，谋生

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 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。

3 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》

4 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

5 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

6 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

7 livelihoods   

生计，谋生之道( livelihood的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• First came the earliest individualistic pioneers who depended on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods. 走在最前面的是早期的个人主义先驱者，他们靠狩猎捕鱼为生。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• With little influence over policies, their traditional livelihoods are threatened. 因为马赛族人对政策的影响力太小，他们的传统生计受到了威胁。

8 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

9 applicants   

申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
• He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。

10 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

11 batch   

n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量

参考例句：

• The first batch of cakes was burnt.第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。
• I have a batch of letters to answer.我有一批信要回复。

12 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。