美国国家公共电台 NPR--A doctor in Punjab province describes relief efforts for Pakistan's floods

A doctor in Punjab province describes relief efforts for Pakistan's floods

Transcript¹

NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Dr. Imran Lodhi (IM-ron LOH-dhee), who joined the relief effort for 33 million Pakistani flood survivors². More than 1,000 people have died since mid-June.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

We have an eyewitness³ account this morning of flooding in Pakistan. We've told you in recent days of eight weeks of heavy rains, a monsoon⁴ season far beyond what is considered normal. At least 1,000 people are estimated to have died. But this is a glimpse of those still alive. Pakistan has a tradition of volunteer help. People rush to the scenes of disasters. And that is the case with Imran Lodhi. He led a group of college students to deliver what aid they could. We reached Mr. Lodhi beside a river in a district called Dera Ghazi Khan.

IMRAN LODHI: I see hundreds and thousands of people, helpless people. I see a complete blackout in this area. There is no electricity here, and there is no internet connectivity. People are trying to call for help. The water level has gone down a bit. But the problem is it has already submerged hundreds of villages in this area. And people are out of their homes. They have refuged on some island or some paved road or any place where they could save themselves from water.

INSKEEP: You said people have taken refuge on roads and islands, any high ground that they can find. What kind of high ground are you on right now?

LODHI: It's kind of a structure built for saving the villages from water. So the areas of this high ground which are intact, people are having refuge here at least to get safe from water. But they have not carried all the stuff. They are only having their kids and their families. They are only thinking about the next meal. The only priority for them is the next meal and the safety of their kids, which are vulnerable to diseases.

INSKEEP: When you say a structure that was built to protect against the water, in the United States, I think we would call it a levee, an earthen wall along a river. And when the levee fails, it may be the only high ground with water on both sides. Is that where you are?

LODHI: Yeah. Yeah. It's the kind of wall of mud and soil. It's not a concrete structure. It's just soil and nothing else. Where I stand, there is - on one side, there's flowing water, very fast-paced flowing water. And on the other side, there are submerged areas. So there is no other ground where people can get safety. The flooded area is stretched around 250 kilometers.

INSKEEP: Two-hundred fifty kilometers.

LODHI: Yeah. Many populations, many of the villages in this area - they have been affected⁵ from the flood.

INSKEEP: What is your job there? What is your task?

LODHI: I'm a university teacher, and I also organize a volunteer group of young people. Basically, I'm a climate activist⁶, so it was - like, my primary job is to create awareness⁷ on climate change and other issues. But in this emergency, I engage my volunteer group for this purpose.

INSKEEP: What have you been able to do?

LODHI: So far, we have been the earliest group to respond to people, to providing them food and ration⁸ - I mean, dry food - and then their tents. Government has also tried, but it's very limited. It seems like the crisis is beyond their capacity. And now at least we have been able to mobilize people in communities who are trying to reach these areas to help these people.

INSKEEP: Among the people who have made it to the levee where you are, who are crowded on that levee, are conditions such that you fear that some could die?

LODHI: Can you just hold a minute?

INSKEEP: Yes.

LODHI: There are people. I have to talk to them.

INSKEEP: Of course. Please go ahead.

LODHI: (Non-English language spoken).

INSKEEP: Dr. Lodhi had been talking with us from inside a car. He'd found some way to get his car out onto that levee. And he got out of the vehicle to talk to whoever it was, and we waited until he came back to the phone.

LODHI: (Non-English language spoken).

I can hear you now.

INSKEEP: Oh, OK. Who was that you were just talking with?

LODHI: Yeah, there was a situation here. People thought we have a lot of aid, so they were trying to break into our car. This is a common situation I have faced many times.

INSKEEP: They were trying to break into your car because they thought you had food, and they needed food?

LODHI: They think we have some supplies.

INSKEEP: And that has been happening a number of times over the last several days?

LODHI: Yeah, it has happened for several times in different areas, but I have come to know how to deal with that situation.

INSKEEP: When you think about the many people on the levee with you there, are their lives at risk?

LODHI: Yeah, there are two situations in which their lives were at risk and their lives which are at risk right now also. There was one stage when the flood was, like, a flash flood. It was a fast-flowing flood, and it actually washed away all their homes and everything. In that case, there were immediate⁹ loss of lives. And now, now there are thousands of people which have lost their everything, and they're looking for food and support, for basic support. And that thing is alarming because if some relief effort at large scale doesn't happen, this can transform into a humanitarian¹⁰ crisis.

INSKEEP: Well, Dr. Lodhi, thank you very much for your insights. I appreciate you taking the time.

LODHI: Thank you. Thank you so much.

1 transcript   

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。

2 survivors   

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

3 eyewitness   

n.目击者，见证人

参考例句：

• The police questioned several eyewitness to the murder.警察询问了谋杀案的几位目击者。
• He was the only eyewitness of the robbery.他是那起抢劫案的唯一目击者。

4 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。

5 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。

6 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

7 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

8 ration   

n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应

参考例句：

• The country cut the bread ration last year.那个国家去年削减面包配给量。
• We have to ration the water.我们必须限量用水。

9 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

10 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。