VOA标准英语2008年-UN: Burmese Authorities Not Moving Fast Enough

By Margaret Besheer
United Nations
08 May 2008

The U.N.'s humanitarian¹ chief says he is disappointed with the government in Burma because it has not moved faster to allow in international aid workers and relief supplies to the cyclone²-devastated country. From United Nations headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.

John Holmes told reporters Thursday that the humanitarian situation in Burma is "increasingly desperate", and that an even worse disaster could unfold if aid agencies cannot get urgently needed aid in. He said he is disappointed the Burmese authorities are not moving to let foreign aid workers and supplies in quickly.

 

"The frustrations³ have been growing that this humanitarian response is being held back because of difficulties of access in different ways," he said.

 

He said there has only been limited progress since Wednesday. Four World Food Program flights have landed in Burma, and the Red Cross is also having some success in getting relief into the tightly controlled country.

But Holmes said that a U.N. disaster coordination⁴ team comprised of four Asian nationals that had clearance⁵ to enter Burma - which is also known as Myanmar - had met with mixed success. Two of the team members were allowed in, but two were turned away. He said the United Nations is still trying to find out why. A fifth team member who is not Asian and requires a visa, is still awaiting clearance.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, said the United States is shocked by the Burmese government's slow response to allowing in international assistance.

 

"We are outraged⁶ by the slowness of the response of the government of Burma to welcome and accept assistance," he said. "It is clear that the government's ability to deal with the situation, which is catastrophic, is limited. And a government has responsibility to protect its own people, to provide for its people. And since it is not able to, you would expect the government to welcome assistance from others."

 

Burmese officials estimate that Saturday's cyclone killed at least 23,000 people. Some 42,000 more are missing. But the top U.S. diplomat⁷ in Burma said Thursday that the death toll⁸ could exceed 100,000.

U.N. officials say more than a million more have been left homeless.

 

The United Nations plans to launch a flash appeal for Burma Friday. U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes also says he is considering traveling to the cyclone-devastated country himself.

1 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

2 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。

3 frustrations   

挫折( frustration的名词复数 )； 失败； 挫败； 失意

参考例句：

• The temptation would grow to take out our frustrations on Saigon. 由于我们遭到挫折而要同西贡算帐的引诱力会增加。
• Aspirations will be raised, but so will frustrations. 人们会产生种种憧憬，但是种种挫折也会随之而来。

4 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

5 clearance   

n.净空；许可(证)；清算；清除，清理

参考例句：

• There was a clearance of only ten centimetres between the two walls.两堵墙之间只有十厘米的空隙。
• The ship sailed as soon as it got clearance. 那艘船一办好离港手续立刻启航了。

6 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

7 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

8 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。