VOA常速英语2007年-US Military Provides Cyclone Relief in Banglade

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
27 November 2007

The U.S. military is providing hundreds of tons of relief supplies to victims of the cyclone¹ in Bangladesh, much of it using a warship² and helicopters sent to the region last week from duty in the Middle East. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.

The commander of U.S. forces in Asia, Admiral Timothy Keating, says he asked for the USS Kearsarge as soon as he realized the severity of the storm that hit Bangladesh two weeks ago. The large, helicopter-carrying amphibious assault ship was dispatched from duty nearly 5,000 kilometers away in support of U.S. counter-terrorism efforts in the Middle East. The admiral says it entered the Bay of Bengal just as the Bangladesh government made a request for assistance.

"We had a pretty good idea of how bad the storm affected³ southern Bangladesh," he said. "We can see some things. And we were in conversation with the embassy and our defense⁴ attaché. And the damage was assessed to be significant. I think it took a little while for the Bangladesh officials to get a comprehensive grasp of the damage."

Speaking via satellite from his headquarters in Hawaii, Admiral Keating told reporters at the Pentagon that preparations to provide help even before the request came enabled the Kearsarge to deliver supplies quickly, mainly fresh water, medical supplies and personnel and food. The admiral denied reports that Bangladeshi officials were initially⁵ reluctant to ask for U.S. military aid, saying they made the request once they realized the extent of the need, and that U.S. forces were in the best position to provide help.

The admiral himself visited Bangladesh on Friday to check on relief efforts, while on his way back to Hawaii from a visit to U.S. troops in Iraq. He assigned a U.S. Marine⁶ Corps⁷ one-star general to supervise relief efforts ashore⁸, and a one-star admiral to supervise efforts on the ship. He says the senior officers are also capable of handling any diplomatic issues that come up with Bangladeshi officials. But he says the U.S. relief effort has received a warm welcome.

"We are attempting, as best we can, to make sure that the Bangladeshis understand it's their operation," he said. "We are in support. We will do nothing that they don't ask for. And when they are done with us we will leave."

Admiral Keating says the U.S. forces are working with 40,000 Bangladeshi troops and police officers to deliver the relief supplies.

The admiral says the 20 U.S. Marine Corps helicopters from the Kearsarge have flown dozens of missions to deliver supplies to areas where the cyclone destroyed roads, and more flights are planned in the coming days. He says the U.S. military also provided several large water purification machines. The admiral reports 25 countries have pledged a total of $4.1 billion (US) to the relief effort, including a $100 - million donation from Saudi Arabia.

1 cyclone   

n.旋风，龙卷风

参考例句：

• An exceptionally violent cyclone hit the town last night.昨晚异常猛烈的旋风吹袭了那个小镇。
• The cyclone brought misery to thousands of people.旋风给成千上万的人带来苦难。

2 warship   

n.军舰，战舰

参考例句：

• He is serving on a warship in the Pacific.他在太平洋海域的一艘军舰上服役。
• The warship was making towards the pier.军舰正驶向码头。

3 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。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

6 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

7 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

8 ashore   

adv.在(向)岸上，上岸

参考例句：

• The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前，孩子们就上岸了。
• He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。