VOA标准英语2010年-Untold Numbers Still Trapped in Rubble

As untold¹ numbers lay dead and or buried in the rubble² of Haiti's worst earthquake ever, the impoverished³ nation is calling on the world to help.

It was a nation already vulnerable, the poorest in the Western hemisphere, with a history of lax construction.  The International Red Cross says the 7.0 earthquake in Haiti leaves close to a third of the population in need of emergency aid.  Thousands are feared dead.

This two photo combination shows above, in a May 20, 2004 file photo provided by the Canadian Department of National Defence, the National Palace in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Below is the National Palace photographed Wednesday Jan. 13, 2010, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, one day after a powerful earthquake crushed thousands of structures, from schools and shacks⁴ to the National Palace and the U.N. peacekeeping headquarters. Untold numbers were still trapped. (Department of National Defence, Cpl. Matthew McGregor, above, Jorge Cruz, below)

"What I know is that Port-au-Prince has been destroyed beginning with the palace, which is a very solid building.  If the place itself is hit that hard imagine what happens to the flimsy abodes⁵ hanging by the flanks, the sides of hills surrounding Port-au-Prince.  It's going to be a major catastrophe," said Haiti's ambassador to the United States, Raymond Joseph.

Joseph is calling for up to quadruple the amount of U.S. aid to his country, which now stands at about $300 million. He calls on the international community to help as well.

"Because the way it is, Port-au-Prince has to be rebuilt," he added.  "And I think a lot of the shanty⁶ towns that were crushed should not be rebuilt in Port-Au-Prince. Decentralized."

On Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama promised a full-scale humanitarian⁷ effort.

"I have directed my administration to respond with a swift, coordinated⁸ and aggressive effort to save lives," he said.

The United Nations said Wednesday that more than 100 people are missing from its wrecked⁹ headquarters. 

"The U.N. Headquarters at the Christopher Hotel collapsed¹⁰ in the quake," said Mr. Ban.  "Many people are still trapped inside."

Meantime, aid from around the world is bound for Haiti on its way from a range of countries including Iceland, China and Israel.

"We are heading to Haiti together with the first delegation¹¹ of the Army's Home Front Command so we can examine how Israel can help in this terrible tragedy," said Danny Saaban of the Israeli Foreign Ministry¹².

People have sent their donations to various relief organizations and their prayers, including the Pope.

"I assure my spiritual closeness to those who have lost their homes, and to all the people who are suffering in various ways for this calamity," said Pope Benedict.

The United Nations reports that the main airport in Haiti's capital is operational and open to relief flights in the coming days.

 

1 untold   

adj.数不清的，无数的

参考例句：

• She has done untold damage to our chances.她给我们的机遇造成了不可估量的损害。
• They suffered untold terrors in the dark and huddled together for comfort.他们遭受着黑暗中的难以言传的种种恐怖，因而只好挤在一堆互相壮胆。

2 rubble   

n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾

参考例句：

• After the earthquake,it took months to clean up the rubble.地震后，花了数月才清理完瓦砾。
• After the war many cities were full of rubble.战后许多城市到处可见颓垣残壁。

3 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 shacks   

n.窝棚，简陋的小屋( shack的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They live in shacks which they made out of wood. 他们住在用木头搭成的简陋的小屋里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Most people in Port au-Prince live in tin shacks. 太子港的大多数居民居住在铁皮棚里。 来自互联网

5 abodes   

住所( abode的名词复数 )； 公寓； （在某地的）暂住； 逗留

参考例句：

• Now he begin to dig near the abodes front legs. 目前他开端挖马前腿附近的土了。
• They built a outstanding bulk of abodes. 她们盖了一大批房屋。

6 shanty   

n.小屋，棚屋；船工号子

参考例句：

• His childhood was spent in a shanty.他的童年是在一个简陋小屋里度过的。
• I want to quit this shanty.我想离开这烂房子。

7 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。

8 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

9 wrecked   

adj.失事的，遇难的

参考例句：

• the hulk of a wrecked ship 遇难轮船的残骸
• the salvage of the wrecked tanker 对失事油轮的打捞

10 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

11 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

12 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。