VOA标准英语2008年-UNICEF Sends Urgent Aids to Flood Victims in In

The U.N. Children's Fund is springing into action with aid as India's Bihar State faces the worst floods in 50 years. UNICEF says severe floods have destroyed almost one-quarter of a million homes affecting at least 1.25 million people in the northern part of Bihar. At least 55 people reportedly have been killed. Lisa Schlein reports from Geneva.
　
Villagers wade¹ through floodwaters at Parmanandpur in the northern Indian state of Bihar, 29 Aug 2008

Flooding has affected² more than 1,000 villages in 13 districts of north Bihar. This has caused large-scale displacement³. The Indian government says it expects up to two million people will be impacted by the disaster.

The flooding started after the Kosi River broke a dam in Nepal and breached⁴ mud embankments in Bihar State in India a week ago.

The Indian government has set up about 155 relief camps to shelter thousands of homeless people. A spokeswoman for the U.N. Children's Fund, Miranda Eeles, tells VOA the condition of these camps is very bad, and as the number of people there grows, she says the risk of diseases will rise.

"The weather is extremely hot, which is exacerbating⁵ the conditions," said Eeles. "The hygiene⁶ conditions are very bad, the hand pumps for clean drinking water are not good enough. Sanitation⁷ facilities - people are defecating in open spaces. This is obviously extremely risky⁸ in terms of spreading disease. And, we already have heard cases of fever and diarrhea have been reported. So, the immediate⁹ priority certainly as far as UNICEF is concerned is to deliver life-saving supplies of medicine, food, clean drinking water and access to proper sanitation." she added.

Eeles says children, pregnant and lactating mothers, and the elderly are most vulnerable to the prevailing¹⁰ conditions.

UNICEF has conducted a rapid assessment¹¹ of the situation in three of the worst affected districts. And, Eeles says, it has already provided essential supplies to some 8,000 families. These include tarpaulin¹² sheets, hygiene kits¹³, water purification tablets and oral rehydration salt packets to treat children with diarrhea.

Flooding in southeastern Nepal has caused significant damages and human suffering. Eeles says at least 70,000 people have been displaced.

"Also, what we have heard is that around 5,000 people from Bihar State have crossed into Nepal to seek relief from the floods. Many of the displaced are sheltering in schools. What we understand is around 30 percent of those are children."

Eeles says UNICEF so far has provided relief items to more than 10,000 people in temporary settlements and is seeking to reach 55,000 affected people in total.

 

1 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。

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 displacement   

n.移置，取代，位移，排水量

参考例句：

• They said that time is the feeling of spatial displacement.他们说时间是空间位移的感觉。
• The displacement of all my energy into caring for the baby.我所有精力都放在了照顾宝宝上。

4 breached   

攻破( breach的现在分词 )； 破坏，违反

参考例句：

• These commitments have already been breached. 这些承诺已遭背弃。
• Our tanks have breached the enemy defences. 我方坦克车突破了敌人的防线。

5 exacerbating   

v.使恶化，使加重( exacerbate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• This pedagogical understretch is exacerbating social inequalities. 这种教学张力不足加重了社会不平等。 来自互联网
• High fertilizer prices are exacerbating the problem. 高涨的肥料价格更加加剧了问题的恶化。 来自互联网

6 hygiene   

n.健康法，卫生学 （a.hygienic）

参考例句：

• Their course of study includes elementary hygiene and medical theory.他们的课程包括基础卫生学和医疗知识。
• He's going to give us a lecture on public hygiene.他要给我们作关于公共卫生方面的报告。

7 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。

8 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

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 prevailing   

adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的

参考例句：

• She wears a fashionable hair style prevailing in the city.她的发型是这个城市流行的款式。
• This reflects attitudes and values prevailing in society.这反映了社会上盛行的态度和价值观。

11 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？

12 tarpaulin   

n.涂油防水布，防水衣，防水帽

参考例句：

• The pool furniture was folded,stacked,and covered with a tarpaulin.游泳池的设备都已经折叠起来，堆在那里，还盖上了防水布。
• The pool furniture was folded,stacked,and covered with a tarpaulin.游泳池的设备都已经折叠起来，堆在那里，还盖上了防水布。

13 kits   

衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件

参考例句：

• Keep your kits closed and locked when not in use. 不用的话把你的装备都锁好放好。
• Gifts Articles, Toy and Games, Wooden Toys, Puzzles, Craft Kits. 采购产品礼品，玩具和游戏，木制的玩具，智力玩具，手艺装备。