VOA标准英语2008年-Burma Agrees to US Aid for Cyclone Victims

By Scott Stearns
Washington
09 May 2008

Burma's military government has agreed to allow a single U.S. cargo¹ plane to deliver relief supplies for victims of Saturday's killer² cyclone³. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, Burmese officials say the storm killed nearly 23,000 people and it is feared the number could go higher.

U.S. National Security Council Spokesman Gordon Johndroe welcomes Burma's decision to allow direct American assistance for the cyclone victims, nearly one week after the storm hit.

"We hope this is the beginning of major U.S. assistance to the Burmese people. We will continue to work with the government of Burma on additional access for USAID, non-governmental organizations as well as our other international partners to provide assistance to help the Burmese people during their time of need," he said.

While Johndroe says U.S. assistance is still limited by the Burmese government, he told reporters in Texas that one C-130 military cargo flight is better than no flights.

The U.S. military has several C-130s and a dozen helicopters in the region ready to fly supplies to Burma if allowed. The U.S. Navy is moving several ships closer to Burma including the USS Essex, which has medical facilities to treat up to 600 patients at a time.

Burmese authorities are still blocking a U.S. disaster response team from visiting areas hardest hit by the storm. Burma is refusing to give foreign aid workers visas, insisting that its own nationals distribute foreign relief supplies.

That delay has sparked international criticism of the country's rulers as relief officials estimate hundreds of thousands of people are waiting for assistance.

The U.N. World Food Program says it will resume aid flights Saturday even after Burmese authorities impounded two earlier shipments of food and equipment.

The United Nations is expected to issue an appeal for more than $100 million in emergency food and relief aid for Burma.

1 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

2 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。

3 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。