VOA标准英语 Hundreds of Migrants Feared Drowned Off Libyan Coast

The International Organization for Migration¹ says it believes more than 300 African migrants, possibly as many as 500, drowned after their boats sank off the coast of Libya. Libyan officials say 21 people are confirmed dead and about 20 others have been rescued.
　
Italian Coast Guard boat carrying some would-be immigrants, rescued at sea, reaches port of tiny Italian island of Lampedusa, 29 Mar² 2009

The International Organization for Migration says, according to its latest information, up to three smugglers boats carrying hundreds of migrants sank off the coast of Libya.

IOM spokesman Jean-Philippe Chauzy says it is quite likely the rickety boats capsized because they were overloaded³, top heavy and ran into heavy storm winds.

"The boats are usually overcrowded," Chauzy said. "There is no safety equipment on those boats. No buoys⁴, no dinghies, anything, because the purpose is to cram⁵ as many people on those boats as possible, with total disrespect for the safety, the dignity of those people who get on those boats who want to go towards Italy and the island of Lampedusa."

Egyptian authorities report the mishap⁶ occurred about 30 kilometers off the Libyan coast. They say some Egyptian nationals were rescued and that the bodies of 10 other Egyptians are among the dead.

Chauzy says most of the migrants aboard the vessels⁷ are believed to have come from Sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa. He says Libya is a country of destination for many migrants from these regions.

He says, increasingly, migrants from the Horn of Africa also are arriving in Libya and risking their lives to get to Europe.

"Over the past year, we have assisted more than 3,500 destitute⁸, stranded⁹ migrants who were allowed to return home on a voluntary basis and benefited from a reintegration package to help them start new lives in their country of origin, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa ... Last year, there were over or close to 37,000 people who landed, who arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa. I think it is fair to say that the majority of those who arrived in Lampedusa left from the Libyan coast," Chauzy said.

The smuggling¹⁰ season normally shuts down in October and resumes again in April. Chauzy says it is not surprising to see the numbers of boats leaving Libya and crossing the Gulf¹¹ of Aden increasing.

He says the latest tragedy shows the lengths to which desperate people will go to escape a life of misery¹² and poverty.

1 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

2 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

3 overloaded   

a.超载的，超负荷的

参考例句：

• He's overloaded with responsibilities. 他担负的责任过多。
• She has overloaded her schedule with work, study, and family responsibilities. 她的日程表上排满了工作、学习、家务等，使自己负担过重。

4 buoys   

n.浮标( buoy的名词复数 )；航标；救生圈；救生衣v.使浮起( buoy的第三人称单数 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神

参考例句：

• The channel is marked by buoys. 航道有浮标表示。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Often they mark the path with buoys. 他们常常用浮标作为航道的标志。 来自辞典例句

5 cram   

v.填塞，塞满，临时抱佛脚，为考试而学习

参考例句：

• There was such a cram in the church.教堂里拥挤得要命。
• The room's full,we can't cram any more people in.屋里满满的，再也挤不进去人了。

6 mishap   

n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸

参考例句：

• I'm afraid your son had a slight mishap in the playground.不好了，你儿子在操场上出了点小意外。
• We reached home without mishap.我们平安地回到了家。

7 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 destitute   

adj.缺乏的；穷困的

参考例句：

• They were destitute of necessaries of life.他们缺少生活必需品。
• They are destitute of common sense.他们缺乏常识。

9 stranded   

a.搁浅的，进退两难的

参考例句：

• He was stranded in a strange city without money. 他流落在一个陌生的城市里， 身无分文，一筹莫展。
• I was stranded in the strange town without money or friends. 我困在那陌生的城市，既没有钱，又没有朋友。

10 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。

11 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。

12 misery   

n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦

参考例句：

• Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。