VOA标准英语2009年-UN Launches Multimillion Dollar Appeal for

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
06 October 2009

The United Nations is appealing for $74 million to provide emergency assistance to hundreds of thousands of victims of two catastrophic typhoons that have struck the Philippines in less than two weeks. 

 
A resident makes her way through mud as others go back to their homes carrying relief goods in Marikina, Philippines, 06 Oct 2009
The Philippines government estimates that nearly four million people have been affected¹ by Typhoon Ketsana, which struck the capital, Manila, and surrounding areas on September 26th.

To compound the situation, a second devastating² storm, Typhoon Parma, made landfall in northern Luzon on October 3 and 4. The impact of that storm was not as great as Ketsana, but the United Nations warns that its effects will likely worsen the flooding already occurring.

The Philippines government puts the number of people dead from Typhoon Ketsana at about 300, with dozens of others missing. The United Nations says an estimated 420,000 people are living in emergency shelters around Manila.

Tropical Storm Parma occurred in an isolated³ farming region, so there was limited loss of life. But the United Nations says there was major crop damage. The World Food Program, or WFP, is part of a joint⁴ U.N. team assessing the needs of the victims.

Spokeswoman Emilia Cassela says one of the WFP aid workers gave a graphic⁵ account of what he saw.

"He says he traveled by boat to reach the beneficiaries," she said. "What he saw was, at best, heartbreaking. The people were receiving the assistance standing⁶ or waiting in almost neck deep water and the only way to reach these people was by boat. The boats were being used to pass the food assistance to the people."

Casella says the WFP is expanding assistance to feed up to one-million people during the next three months. In addition, the agency is providing air support for the humanitarian⁷ community. She says the WFP will receive almost one-third of the $74 million U.N. appeal.

The World Health Organization reports there has been extensive damage to hospitals and health clinics throughout the flooded areas. It says that, so far, there have not been any major outbreaks of disease.

But the WHO says the fear of epidemics⁸ is rising because of the lack of safe drinking water and proper sanitation⁹, and desperate living conditions.

The U.N. Children's Fund says it too is concerned about the risk of epidemics and their potential impact on children and lactating women. It says it has delivered hundreds of hygiene¹⁰ kits¹¹ and is disseminating¹² information about best hygiene practices.

The United Nations says food, water, sanitation and hygiene relief remain the highest priorities. 

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 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

4 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。

5 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 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。

8 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。

9 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。

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 kits   

衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件

参考例句：

• Keep your kits closed and locked when not in use. 不用的话把你的装备都锁好放好。
• Gifts Articles, Toy and Games, Wooden Toys, Puzzles, Craft Kits. 采购产品礼品，玩具和游戏，木制的玩具，智力玩具，手艺装备。

12 disseminating   

散布，传播( disseminate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Our comrades in propaganda work have the task of disseminating Marxism. 我们作宣传工作的同志有一个宣传马克思主义的任务。
• Disseminating indecent photographs on the internet a distasteful act. 在因特网上发布不雅照片是卑劣的行径。