VOA标准英语10月-United Nations Rushes Aid to Flood-Stricken Yemen

U.N. aid agencies are rushing aid to help thousands of people affected¹ by devastating² floods in Yemen. The agencies say many of the victims are without shelter, food and proper medical care. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.

The United Nations estimated at least 180 people have lost their lives and many remain missing in floods that began last week in Yemen. It said about 10,000 people have become homeless and more than 2,000 houses and public buildings have been destroyed or damaged.
　

Yemenis sit on the rubble3 of collapsed4 buildings in the city of Shibam in Hadramaut province, 28 Oct. 2008

The U.N. refugee agency said it is very concerned about the widespread destruction and plight⁵ of the victims. Spokesman Ron Redmond said the UNHCR has sent items such as tents, plastic sheets and plastic rolls to Yemen.

"Since we have an operation in Yemen already working with refugees and asylum⁶ seekers, we are lending a hand to the joint⁷ U.N. effort," he said. "And, we have already sent 11 trucks to the affected area ... We are already beginning to distribute assistance to the affected Yemenis. And, from our point of view, even though we do not normally deal with natural disasters, Yemen has been a generous host, as you know, to tens of thousands of asylum seekers, refugees coming across the Gulf⁸ of Aden. So, we believe it is the least we can do."

The World Food Program is launching a special assistance program for 20,000 flood victims.
　

An aerial view shows a flooded area following torrential downpours in Hadramut, 25 Oct. 2008

WFP Spokeswoman Emilia Casella said the agency is already assisting one million people in the country.

"So, with this existing program, existing logistical network that we have, we are well placed to assist with food that is already in the country," she said. "And, especially to the people who have been affected who have no cooking facilities, so we are providing ready to eat food that they do not have to cook. We already have a good cooperative relationship with the authorities in Yemen and are able to do that."

The World Health Organization says it is concerned about the outbreak of water-borne diseases and malaria⁹. The agency is sending medicines and other urgent supplies to Yemen to treat over 50,000 patients for a range of conditions.

1 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。

2 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

3 rubble   

n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾

参考例句：

• After the earthquake,it took months to clean up the rubble.地震后，花了数月才清理完瓦砾。
• After the war many cities were full of rubble.战后许多城市到处可见颓垣残壁。

4 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

5 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

6 asylum   

n.避难所，庇护所，避难

参考例句：

• The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
• Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。

7 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

8 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

9 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。