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EXPLORATIONS - International Red Cross Helps Victims of Natural Disasters
The Red Cross is leading efforts to help victims of the cyclone1 in Burma, earthquake in China and starvation in Ethiopia.
Transcript2 of radio broadcast:
20 May 2008

VOICE ONE:

I’m Steve Ember.

VOICE TWO:

And I’m Barbara Klein with EXPLORATIONS in VOA Special English. International aid organizations are helping3 survivors4 of two disasters this month -- a severe storm in Burma and a major earthquake in China. Today we tell about one of these organizations, the International Federation5 of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

On May second, a severe storm hit the Irrawaddy Delta6 area of Burma. High winds, heavy rain and floodwaters killed tens of thousands of people. Hundreds of thousands of homes were damaged. The secretary-general of the Red Cross Federation, Markus Niskala, says Cyclone Nargis has affected7 as many as two million people. He says they lack shelter, food, clean water and health care.

VOICE TWO:
 

Red Cross volunteers help provide aid in Bogolay, Burma

About twenty-seven thousand Red Cross volunteers in Burma began helping the survivors immediately after the cyclone hit. They gave supplies to people in emergency shelters. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has sent tons of supplies and equipment to Burma's Red Cross. The organization said Burma's Red Cross was working without delay to help people in need.

The International Red Cross says clean water is urgently needed to prevent diseases from spreading. The organization launched an appeal for fifty-one million dollars to help five hundred thousand victims of the storm over the next three years.

VOICE ONE:

Pressure continues on Burma's military-ruled government to accept foreign help for survivors of Cyclone Nargis. On Monday, the government said it would let aid workers from Southeast Asian nations enter the country.

Reports say the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies expects to double its emergency aid to the area this week. It has asked for five airplanes to fly supplies from Malaysia to Burma. Each plane has forty tons of supplies.

VOICE TWO:

On May twelfth, a major earthquake struck Sichuan Province in southwestern China. The earthquake killed tens of thousands of people. It also destroyed many buildings, including the homes of up to five million people. Health officials warn that a lack of food, clean water and medical supplies could lead to the spread of disease.
 

Volunteers from a Red Cross Student Association in Shanghai collect money for earthquake victims

Immediately after the quake, the Red Cross Society of China began to organize an aid operation. Workers and volunteers have been providing temporary shelter, food and water to survivors in the affected area.

On Sunday, Chinese media reported that the Red Cross Society of China gave about one million dollars worth of emergency supplies to earthquake survivors. The supplies included food, water, clothing and temporary shelters.

VOICE ONE:

People in Ethiopia are facing another kind of disaster -- starvation. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says it is taking action to help an estimated forty thousand Ethiopians.

The Red Cross is launching an emergency appeal for almost two million dollars to provide urgently needed food. Severe lack of rain has caused food shortages8 in Ethiopia and other countries in Africa.

The director of programs for the Red Cross, Thomas Gurtner, says the goal of the appeal is to help the affected Ethiopians until local crops are harvested in October.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:
 

Workers load supplies for Burma at a center near Kuala Lumpur

People around the world welcome the flags and signs of the Red Cross movement during natural disasters and war. The Red Cross flag shows two red lines crossing on a white surface. The Red Crescent serves mainly Muslim countries. Its flag is white with a red, crescent moon. Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations help survivors of many kinds of natural disasters. When thousands of people flee their homes, Red Cross and Red Crescent teams go to work.

The teams study the situation and conditions in affected areas. They observe whether the people are moving from country to country or moving within their homeland. Are the people fleeing from oppression and war? Are they moving because of natural disasters or economic reasons? The answers help decide how the aid effort will be organized.

VOICE ONE:

The International Committee of the Red Cross is the lead agency within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. A coalition9 makes possible the work of the Red Cross Movement. It has one hundred eighty-six national aid societies. The societies belong to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The American Red Cross is one such national organization. Money given by Americans mainly supports this private group. Volunteers perform most of the group's work.

VOICE TWO:

The American Red Cross carries out many activities in the United States. It provides more than half the nation’s blood supply. The American Red Cross trains millions of people in life-saving skills. It provides health care for more than two million people.

The Red Cross has taught millions of people to swim. Red Cross community programs provide food for poor people. Volunteers take meals to people who are unable to prepare their own food. Other volunteers visit patients in hospitals and treatment centers for sick or disabled persons.

VOICE ONE:

The American Red Cross also helps people in the armed services. It helps them communicate with their families. Thousands of families each year receive emergency information about service members in faraway places.

The American Red Cross sends help to thousands of disaster areas in the United States each year.

For example, on May tenth, severe windstorms struck parts of the central United States. The American Red Cross sent several teams of volunteers to the hardest hit areas. Volunteers opened shelters for people whose homes were destroyed. They provided food, clothing and medical care.

VOICE TWO:

The many national Red Cross groups cooperate through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The headquarters of the International Federation is in Geneva, Switzerland.

The headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross is also in Geneva. This group acts as a neutral negotiator10 among warring nations to protect human rights. It attempts to make sure that the Geneva Conventions11 are obeyed. These rules guarantee humane12 treatment of soldiers and civilians13. For example, prisoners of war may not be tortured to get military information from them. And, poison gas is banned as a weapon.

The International Red Cross Conference meets every four years to discuss the Geneva Conventions. The Red Cross and Red Crescent movement believes nations must take more responsibility for reducing violence and unfair treatment. The movement urges improved conditions for people suffering from war and disaster.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

The proposal that led to the Red Cross movement was made almost one hundred fifty years ago. A Swiss man, Jean Henri Dunant, proposed that every country establish permanent aid organizations. Mister Dunant said these groups should be politically neutral. He wanted the organizations to help sick and wounded soldiers.

Mister Dunant had seen the terrible suffering of soldiers injured in war. He established a field hospital in the battle area for the wounded soldiers of both sides after a conflict in Italy. That was in eighteen fifty-nine, during the Austro-Sardinian War.

VOICE TWO:

Mister Dunant wrote about his experiences in a book, “A Memory of Solferino.” It helped many people understand the need for an international aid agency. The influence of Jean Henri Dunant helped create the International Committee of the Red Cross. It was established at a meeting in Geneva in eighteen sixty-three.

Today, the organization that developed from his proposal continues to help survivors of natural disasters and wars around the world. The Red Cross estimates that it helps about thirty million people each year. This year is proving to be an extremely busy one for Red Cross volunteers.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

This program was written by Jerilyn Watson and Shelley Gollust. Mario Ritter was our producer. I’m Steve Ember.

VOICE TWO:

And I’m Barbara Klein. You can get transcripts14, MP3s and podcasts of our programs at our Web site, voaspecialenglish.com. Join us again next week for EXPLORATIONS in VOA Special English.


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 cyclone cy3x7     
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。
2 transcript JgpzUp     
n.抄本,誊本,副本,肄业证书
参考例句:
  • A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
  • They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。
3 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
4 survivors 02ddbdca4c6dba0b46d9d823ed2b4b62     
幸存者,残存者,生还者( survivor的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
  • survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者
5 federation htCzMS     
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。
6 delta gxvxZ     
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。
7 affected TzUzg0     
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。
8 shortages f09a7486187a5c082c18856f7aa1adb5     
n.不足( shortage的名词复数 );缺少;缺少量;不足额
参考例句:
  • Food shortages often occur in time of war. 在战争期间常常发生粮食短缺的情形。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • At the same time, worldwide food and fuel shortages eased. 同时,世界性粮食和石油短缺的现象终止了。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
9 coalition pWlyi     
n.结合体,同盟,结合,联合
参考例句:
  • The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
  • Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。
10 negotiator hGPxb     
n.协商者,谈判者;(票据、支票等)背书人
参考例句:
  • They have placed great trust in him as a negotiator. 他们完全信赖他进行谈判。
  • The negotiator acted as liaison between labour and management. 谈判者充当劳资双方的联络人。
11 conventions 8b16228fe06418aeaeccfa0af9f10323     
(某一职业、政党等的人士召开的)大会( convention的名词复数 ); 协议; 习俗; (美国)全国代表大会
参考例句:
  • They broke away from conventions. 他们打破了常规。
  • They disregard social conventions without being conscious that they are doing anything extraordinary. 他们不顾社会习俗,并未意识到自己在做些与众不同的事。
12 humane Uymy0     
adj.人道的,富有同情心的
参考例句:
  • Is it humane to kill animals for food?宰杀牲畜来吃合乎人道吗?
  • Their aim is for a more just and humane society.他们的目标是建立一个更加公正、博爱的社会。
13 civilians 2a8bdc87d05da507ff4534c9c974b785     
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。
14 transcripts 525c0b10bb61e5ddfdd47d7faa92db26     
n.抄本( transcript的名词复数 );转写本;文字本;副本
参考例句:
  • Like mRNA, both tRNA and rRNA are transcripts of chromosomal DNA. tRNA及rRNA同mRNA一样,都是染色体DNA的转录产物。 来自辞典例句
  • You can't take the transfer students'exam without your transcripts. 没有成绩证明书,你就不能参加转学考试。 来自辞典例句

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