2006年VOA标准英语-US Military Ends Earthquake Relief Mission

By Benjamin Sand
Islamabad
30 March 2006
 

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Michael LeFever, right, receives souvenir from Pakistan's Maj. Gen. Javed Aslam at the conclusion of ceremony to wrap up US earthquake relief operation, March 30, 2006  
  
The U.S. military has announced the official end of its extensive earthquake relief mission in Pakistan. Officials from both countries lauded¹ the American emergency relief efforts, launched just hours after last October's deadly earthquake struck.

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Pakistani officials described last October's earthquake as one of the worst natural disasters the region has ever experienced.

In less than a minute, the massive 7.6 magnitude quake killed an estimated 80,000 people and left more than three million others homeless.

Dozens of countries around the world responded with aid. Within 24 hours of the quake, the U.S. military had already helped establish a "combined disaster relief center" in the Pakistani capital.

Within 48 hours, U.S. soldiers were on the ground in many of the quake's hardest-hit areas, in the high Himalayan mountains of Northern Pakistan.

Navy Rear Admiral Michael LeFever commanded the U.S. relief center. During an emotional closing ceremony Thursday, he said the earthquake was a unique opportunity for the United States to show its solidarity² with the Pakistani people.

"We will never forget what happened or what was accomplished³. We worked together to do the impossible," he said. "The statistics, while impressive, only tell part of the story. The bonds and the friendship between the forces as we sought to save lives and restore hope is the other story that will never be forgotten. It will live in our hearts and our souls of all our soldiers who served here."

In just under six months, U.S. military helicopters, pulled from Afghanistan flew more than 4,000 relief missions and delivered more than nine million kilograms of emergency supplies.

American military hospitals set up inside the quake zone treated nearly 35,000 patients.

LeFever says the remaining U.S. helicopters will be flown back to Afghanistan this week, and all American troops will be out of Pakistan by April 15.

The American response is credited with helping⁴ improve Pakistani public opinion toward the United States.

The intervention⁵ itself was widely publicized throughout the country, and U.S. officials here promoted the effort as a chance for America to repay a key ally in the war on terror.

Speaking Thursday, Pakistan's commander of aviation assets, Major General Javed Aslam, thanked the United States for its assistance.

"Your Chinooks became the angels of mercy. Because of you, the relief effort reached the most inaccessible⁶ corners of the area," commented General Aslam. "Your whole-hearted participation⁷ in Operation Lifeline has not only earned the respect of every soldier in the Pakistan army, but has also left indelible marks on the hearts and minds of the people of Pakistan."

Despite the end of the U.S. military's effort here, American aid for the recovery will continue. The United States has committed more than half a billion dollars for relief and reconstruction⁸ projects.

1 lauded   

v.称赞，赞美( laud的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They lauded the former president as a hero. 他们颂扬前总统为英雄。 来自辞典例句
• The nervy feats of the mountaineers were lauded. 登山者有勇气的壮举受到赞美。 来自辞典例句

2 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

3 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

4 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。

5 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。

6 inaccessible   

adj.达不到的，难接近的

参考例句：

• This novel seems to me among the most inaccessible.这本书对我来说是最难懂的小说之一。
• The top of Mount Everest is the most inaccessible place in the world.珠穆朗玛峰是世界上最难到达的地方。

7 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

8 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。