2006年VOA标准英语-UNICEF: Children in Ethiopia Facing Lethal

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
31 March 2006
 

Women fetch water in drought-hit Dubluk, Ethiopia  
  
The U.N. Children's Fund, UNICEF, says Ethiopian children are facing an epidemic¹ of lethal² diseases. UNICEF says outbreaks of malaria³ and diarrhea have gripped the drought-stricken region of Oromia, following rains that have created conditions for waterborne diseases.

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People in drought-stricken Ethiopia have been praying for rain for the past two years.  And, now that the rains have come, they are proving to be a mixed blessing⁴.

Spokesman for the U.N. Children's Fund, Damien Personnaz, says the rains that have fallen in the Oromia region for the past week are good for the crops, but they are a potential threat to children, many of whom are malnourished and are particularly vulnerable to disease. One threat, he says, is mosquitoborne malaria.

Damien Personnaz (UNICEF photo)   
  
"What happened is that the soil was extremely dry, and, therefore, very strong," he said.  "And the water could not really be absorbed by the soil, so it ran everywhere, and, therefore, it also created some holes.  And, very quickly, because of the heat, these holes became very good places for mosquitoes breeding."

In addition, Personnaz says, rainwater is washing over the carcasses of dead animals that have perished in the drought, and contaminating drinking water.

Personnaz says that puts people at risk of contracting diarrhea or dysentery.    He says diarrhea is the number one killer⁵ of children in Africa.  UNICEF estimates up to 700,000 children in Oromia are at risk of becoming sick.

Personnaz says UNICEF soon will launch a major campaign to help address this emergency.

"What we are going to do is to distribute mosquito nets," he added.  "This is the most efficient tool to combat malaria and to fight against the spread of malaria among the children.  That is one thing.  In terms of waterborne diseases, it is a bit more complicated, because we need to set up some water activities, and we also have to distribute immediately some water purification tablets, which can be used by families to at least purify the water they are going to drink." 

Personnaz says there is still time to make a difference in the region.  He says donations large and small are beginning to come in.  They range from $3 million, donated by the government of Sweden to a contribution of $1,500 collected by a group of school children in California.

1 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

2 lethal   

adj.致死的；毁灭性的

参考例句：

• A hammer can be a lethal weapon.铁锤可以是致命的武器。
• She took a lethal amount of poison and died.她服了致命剂量的毒药死了。

3 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。

4 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

5 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。