VOA标准英语2008年-Red Cross Issues Multi-Million Dollar Appeal Fo

The International Federation¹ of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is appealing for $72.5 million to support a three-year emergency and recovery program for victims of Cyclone² Nargis in Burma. The Red Cross says hundreds of thousands of poor people who lived on the edge before the cyclone struck are weaker and more vulnerable. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Red Cross headquarters in Geneva.
　
Cyclone-affected³ residents wait for food aid distribution from private donors⁴ in Mawlamyingchun, Irrawaddy Delta⁵, 03 Jul 2008

The cyclone, which struck Burma on May 2, was the worst to hit the country in 40 years. An estimated 130,000 people were killed or reported missing. Nearly 2.5 million people, most in the Irawaddy Delta, are affected by the storm and in need of assistance.

The International Red Cross says progress has been made in reaching people in need with critical emergency assistance. But, many challenges remain.

Red Cross Spokesman, Zach Abraham tells VOA one of the challenges is to refocus media attention on this catastrophic event. He says the message that hundreds of thousands of people remain in desperate need of help appears to have been lost.

"If this story drops off the radar⁶ and people just forget about Myanmar, then the situation can be dramatically worse," he said. "But, right now, the outlook is good because the aid work is getting done, help is being provided. But, again more work needs to be done."

The Burmese Red Cross has a network of thousands of volunteers who are often able to go to areas that are inaccessible⁷ to other aid agencies. Since Cyclone Nargis struck, the Red Cross has provided short-term emergency relief to more than 500,000 people in severely⁸ affected areas. It has delivered 2,500 tons of relief goods by air and by sea.

Abraham says it will take people a very long time to get their lives back to normal considering the magnitude of the devastation⁹ caused by Cyclone Nargis. He says the Red Cross multi-million dollar appeal will go a long way toward meeting that goal.

"This money will be used to continue to provide the emergency response to assist 100,000 households for the next 36 months," said Abraham. "We will be looking at shelter, water, hygiene¹⁰ promotion¹¹, sanitation¹², psychological support and long-term disaster risk reduction training."

Abraham says Red Cross volunteers are intensifying¹³ community education for the prevention and control of disease. Another priority is strengthening livelihoods¹⁴. He says the Red Cross will provide strong support to vulnerable communities to help them rebuild sustainable agriculture, fishing and cottage industries

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 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 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 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

6 radar   

n.雷达，无线电探测器

参考例句：

• They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
• Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。

7 inaccessible   

adj.达不到的，难接近的

参考例句：

• This novel seems to me among the most inaccessible.这本书对我来说是最难懂的小说之一。
• The top of Mount Everest is the most inaccessible place in the world.珠穆朗玛峰是世界上最难到达的地方。

8 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

9 devastation   

n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤

参考例句：

• The bomb caused widespread devastation. 炸弹造成大面积破坏。
• There was devastation on every side. 到处都是破坏的创伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 hygiene   

n.健康法，卫生学 （a.hygienic）

参考例句：

• Their course of study includes elementary hygiene and medical theory.他们的课程包括基础卫生学和医疗知识。
• He's going to give us a lecture on public hygiene.他要给我们作关于公共卫生方面的报告。

11 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

12 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。

13 intensifying   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的现在分词 )；增辉

参考例句：

• The allies are intensifying their air campaign. 联军部队正加大他们的空战强度。 来自辞典例句
• The rest of the European powers were in a state of intensifying congestion. 其余的欧洲强国则处于越来越拥挤的状态。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史

14 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。