2006年VOA标准英语-Red Cross Says Famine Can Be Prevented in

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
27 March 2006
 
The International Federation¹ of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says there is still time to prevent the growing food shortages in Eastern Africa and the Horn of Africa from turning into a general famine. The Red Cross says more than 11 million people are in desperate need of assistance.

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The Red Cross says people across East Africa already are in a state of crisis. It says people are starting to move across national borders in search of food and water, and this is making a bad situation worse.

 

Children are seen hanging around dried watering holes at Tuka, in Ethiopia (File photo)  
  

Red Cross spokesman, Jean-Luc Martinage, says all countries in East Africa are suffering from drought. He says the hoped for rains have failed to come, resulting in crop failures. He notes the rain that has fallen in northern Kenya during the past few weeks is not enough to guarantee a good harvest in June and July. He says 3.5 million people there are threatened with starvation.

Besides the drought, he says countries also are suffering from poverty, some from conflict, and inadequate² health and sanitation³ services.

"In Burundi, for instance, we have now about two-million people affected⁴ and the lack of rain is only one part of the problem. Burundi is also facing the consequences of a long-lasting civil war with a large number of refugees expected to return home from camps in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo," said Martinage. "So, we need to provide those returnees with food, shelter and health services."

Tanzania is another country whose critical situation only now is beginning to be recognized. A recent Red Cross assessment⁵ of the country finds food shortages there are acute and widespread. It says about 3.7 million people are short of food and the price of Tanzania's staple⁶ maize⁷ crop has gone up by 85-percent.

Martinage says time is running out for people in East Africa.

"We are trying to prevent this food insecurity situation, as we call it, that exists in regional pockets in East Africa to turn to a general famine situation," he said. "And, we will provide, of course, food distribution. But, also livestock⁸ protection because a lot of cattle is dying. And, obviously, the consequences on the local population."

The Red Cross says it needs $15.5 million to assist hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Burundi. The money will be used for food, water and sanitation, health care and livestock protection.

1 federation   

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。

2 inadequate   

adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的

参考例句：

• The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
• She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。

3 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。

4 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。

5 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

6 staple   

n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类

参考例句：

• Tea is the staple crop here.本地产品以茶叶为大宗。
• Potatoes are the staple of their diet.土豆是他们的主要食品。

7 maize   

n.玉米

参考例句：

• There's a field planted with maize behind the house.房子后面有一块玉米地。
• We can grow sorghum or maize on this plot.这块地可以种高粱或玉米。

8 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。