2007年VOA标准英语-Sudan Faces Worst Floods in 20 Years

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
19 July 2007

The International Federation¹ of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says Sudan is facing its worst flood season in almost two decades. The agency says Sudan is in urgent need of international assistance to help shelter tens of thousands of homeless people and to stave off potential disease outbreaks. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Red Cross headquarters in Geneva.

remains2 of his home following floods in Kassala, near Khartoum, Sudan Tuesday, 10 July 2007" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070721/1502180.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

A Sudanese sits amongst the remains of his home following floods in Kassala, near Khartoum,  10 July 2007

The rains came early this year, causing the Nile and other rivers to overflow³. The floods have reportedly affected⁴ about one-half-million people across 10 of Sudan's 26 states. Local authorities believe nearly 40 people have lost their lives.

The future prospect⁵ looks grim as weather forecasters expect the rains to continue until mid-October. They predict as many as 2.5 million people across 16 States could ultimately be affected.

Niels Scott, Operations Coordinator⁶ for Africa for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, tells VOA many thousands of people already have had their homes and livelihoods⁷ washed away in the growing deluge⁸.

"Tens of thousands of people have had their homes damaged and tens of thousands of people have had their homes completely destroyed. And, as for their livelihoods, yes. Crops are wrecked," said Scott. "Grain stores are almost swept away. People's businesses are ruined in a number of places, especially in urban areas. So, the impact is substantial."

Scott says access to some areas is difficult and can only be reached by helicopter. He says areas in the north and east of the country are expected to bear the brunt of the damage in the coming months.

He says flooding in conflict-ridden Darfur is mainly centered in urban areas; such as el-Fasher. He says it is five times more difficult to deal with emergencies such as this in places with large-scale displacement⁹.

"Flash floods can occur overnight," he said. "The infrastructure¹⁰ is already weak. You have a population in a place like el-Fasher, which is now double what it was 10 years ago. People living in makeshift accommodation. You can imagine when you are living in tents, the impact of rain and ... you can imagine the impact on a family of five or six in a makeshift shelter of a storm of that type. It must be really awful to live through it."

The Red Cross is appealing for more than $1.5 million. Scott explains this is only a preliminary appeal, which will be followed by a more substantial one after the full extent of the damage and needs is assessed.

He says the money will support the Sudanese Red Crescent in its effort to assist 40,000 people in eight states. He says priority needs include shelter material, such as plastic sheeting, blankets, health care and sanitation¹¹ to try to prevent epidemics¹² from breaking out.

1 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 overflow   

v.(使)外溢，(使)溢出；溢出，流出，漫出

参考例句：

• The overflow from the bath ran on to the floor.浴缸里的水溢到了地板上。
• After a long period of rain,the river may overflow its banks.长时间的下雨天后，河水可能溢出岸来。

4 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。

5 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

6 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？

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 deluge   

n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥

参考例句：

• This little stream can become a deluge when it rains heavily.雨大的时候，这条小溪能变作洪流。
• I got caught in the deluge on the way home.我在回家的路上遇到倾盆大雨。

9 displacement   

n.移置，取代，位移，排水量

参考例句：

• They said that time is the feeling of spatial displacement.他们说时间是空间位移的感觉。
• The displacement of all my energy into caring for the baby.我所有精力都放在了照顾宝宝上。

10 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

11 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。

12 epidemics   

n．流行病

参考例句：

• Reliance upon natural epidemics may be both time-consuming and misleading. 依靠天然的流行既浪费时间，又会引入歧途。
• The antibiotic epidemics usually start stop when the summer rainy season begins. 传染病通常会在夏天的雨季停止传播。