2007年VOA标准英语-Rising Floodwaters Threaten 500,000 in Southern

By Scott Bobb
Johannesburg
13 February 2007

Relief agencies in southern Africa say rising flood waters across several countries in the region are threatening 500,000 people and that more than 60,000 have been evacuated¹ in Mozambique.  Aid groups report that the flooding has been accompanied by outbreaks of cholera² among those affected³.  VOA's Scott Bobb reports from our Southern Africa bureau in Johannesburg.

Hundreds of Mozambicans are cut off during floods in this Feb. 29, 2000 file photo and floods again threaten the southern African country as many parts in the northern districts are waterlogged from exessive rains

Disaster relief groups in southern Africa warn that floodwaters in the Zambezi River Basin, which have already caused the worst flooding in six years, have not peaked yet.

The Red Cross Federation's director for Southern Africa, Francoise Le Goff, says the disaster stretches from Angola to Mozambique and includes parts of Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

"The rains are everywhere resulting in some massive destruction," she noted⁴.  "We have serious destruction of roads, houses, vehicles.  So it is very serious."

Heavy rains have caused the Zambezi River and two tributaries⁵ in central Mozambique to burst their banks, filling several dams, including the massive Cahora Bassa, to capacity.

The floods have also inundated⁶ thousands of hectares of cropland two months before the harvest season.  Authorities say this likely will result in food shortages in some areas.

Officials in Mozambique say the crisis could surpass the floods of 2001 that killed about 700 people and displaced 500,000 more.  But they do not expect such high casualties, because they are better prepared now.

Red Cross Official Francoise Le Goff says the flooding is also causing outbreaks of cholera, a water-born disease that causes severe diarrhea.

"In the region we are getting seven countries with various outbreaks in some districts, in Malawi, in Zambia, in Zimbabwe, in Mozambique, in Namibia, in Angola among others," she added.  "So we are trying also to monitor jointly⁷ the flood and the cholera outbreak."

She says 5,000 cases of cholera have been recorded in Angola since last month.

The Red Cross has released $250,000 dollars for emergency supplies, such as tents, food and medicine, and is launching an appeal for material to replace previously⁸ positioned stocks.

The U.N. World Food Program says it has distributed 300 tons of food to people in central Mozambique.  It estimates 250,000 people may need food assistance in the coming months and says it is facing a shortfall of $100 million for its program this year.

The Mozambican government is preparing a $20 million disaster relief plan and is appealing for contributions to provide shelter, food and sanitation⁹ services to its displaced people.

1 evacuated   

撤退者的

参考例句：

• Police evacuated nearby buildings. 警方已将附近大楼的居民疏散。
• The fireman evacuated the guests from the burning hotel. 消防队员把客人们从燃烧着的旅馆中撤出来。

2 cholera   

n.霍乱

参考例句：

• The cholera outbreak has been contained.霍乱的发生已被控制住了。
• Cholera spread like wildfire through the camps.霍乱在营地里迅速传播。

3 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。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 tributaries   

n. 支流

参考例句：

• In such areas small tributaries or gullies will not show. 在这些地区，小的支流和冲沟显示不出来。
• These tributaries are subsequent streams which erode strike valley. 这些支流系即为蚀出走向谷的次生河。

6 inundated   

v.淹没( inundate的过去式和过去分词 )；（洪水般地）涌来；充满；给予或交予（太多事物）使难以应付

参考例句：

• We have been inundated with offers of help. 主动援助多得使我们应接不暇。
• We have been inundated with every bit of information imaginable. 凡是想得到的各种各样的信息潮水般地向我们涌来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

8 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

9 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。