VOA标准英语2010年-US Seeks to Improve Image Through Paki

U.S. officials say they have a long-term commitment to help Pakistan recover from one of the worst disasters in that nation's history. Three weeks of monsoon¹ rains have killed an estimated 1,600 people and affected² another 20 million. The American effort also has a secondary purpose  - boosting America's image in Pakistan.

U.S. military helicopters are delivering aid to people in areas of Pakistan hardest hit by the floods. 

The State Department says U.S. assistance to flood-stricken regions has already totaled $76 million.

U.S. special envoy³ Richard Holbrooke hopes the aid will make a lasting⁴ impression.  

"The people of Pakistan will see that when the crisis hits, it's not the .., it's not the Iranians, it's not other countries," said Richard Holbrooke. "It's not the EU, it's the U.S."

The subtext: there's been a recent spike⁵ in anti-American sentiment in Pakistan.

 In a study by the Pew Research Center, nearly 60 percent of Pakistanis surveyed described the U.S. as an enemy.

Many of those said they oppose strikes by U.S. drones on insurgents⁶ in the tribal⁷ areas bordering Afghanistan.

They said too many innocent civilians⁸ have been killed in the strikes.

But some Pakistani residents in the Swat Valley told a US television network they are grateful for US flood relief. 

Reporter: "Has this help changed the way you view America?"

Resident; "America, they support the needy⁹ people."

Reporter: "Yeah, did it surprise you?"

Resident: "Yes, it was a surprise."

However, many Pakistanis are angry about what they see as the slow response by their own government.

On Monday, protesters in Punjab province burned tires and blocked roads. 

The United Nations has launched an appeal for $460 million, but charities say the response has been sluggish¹⁰, with only 27 percent of the goal reached so far.

In Brussels Monday, August 16, a spokesman said the European Union is considering more aid for Pakistan.

"Since the scale of the floods are the highest and the most serious in the last 80 years, it is possible that the aid approved by the Commission, so far, is not sufficient," said Ferran Taradellas Espuny.

Another major concern - disease.

The United Nations says 3.5 million children in Pakistan are at risk for water-borne diseases.

A spokesman said as many as six million people overall will be at risk for diarrhea and dysentery if donors¹¹ do not provide more aid.

He warned there could be what he calls a "second wave of death."

1 monsoon   

n.季雨，季风，大雨

参考例句：

• The monsoon rains started early this year.今年季雨降雨开始得早。
• The main climate type in that region is monsoon.那个地区主要以季风气候为主要气候类型。

2 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。

3 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

4 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

5 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

6 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

7 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

8 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

9 needy   

adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的

参考例句：

• Although he was poor,he was quite generous to his needy friends.他虽穷，但对贫苦的朋友很慷慨。
• They awarded scholarships to needy students.他们给贫苦学生颁发奖学金。

10 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。

11 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》