VOA标准英语2010年-International Agencies Mobilize Aid Fo

The United Nations is gearing up for a huge operation to help hundreds of thousands of victims of the powerful earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday.  U.N. and international agencies are sending disaster experts and essential relief supplies to the stricken Caribbean Island. 

The earthquake hit a number of areas including the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, where some four million people live.  The World Food Program, which has a large staff on the ground, says the level of destruction indicates many of these people have been affected¹ and will require help.

The Director of the WFP office in Geneva, Charles Vincent, says the first priority is to save lives.

"To rescue people that are buried, that are trapped, etc.…followed very rapidly by a big problem of water, sanitation², epidemic-problems of diseases that might be bred in that kind of situation," Vincent said.

Vincent says shelter and food are also critical needs.  He says WFP has extensive stocks of food in the country and will distribute supplies to the victims as soon as possible.  He says WFP is also airlifting energy biscuits for 30,000 people.

The Red Cross says up to three million people have been affected.
Describing the earthquake as a "catastrophe³", Haiti's envoy⁴ to the U.S. said the cost of the damage could run into billions.
A number of nations, including the U.S., Britain and Venezuela, are gearing up to send aid.  The Inter-American Development Bank said it will immediately approve a $200,000 grant for emergency asssistance to Haiti which is aimed at providing food, water, medicine and shelter for earthquake victims.

1 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。

2 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。

3 catastrophe   

n.大灾难，大祸

参考例句：

• I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
• This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。

4 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。