VOA标准英语2010年-In Washington, People Gather at Haiti

Candlelight vigils for victims of the devastating¹ earthquake in Haiti have been taking place in the United States.  In Washington, a crowd gathered at the Haiti's Embassy Wednesday night to offer prayers and appeal for international support.

Haiti's Embassy in Washington organized the vigil as Haitian immigrants waited for news about family and friends.  They vowed² to stay strong.

Philippe Lemaire says he has family in Haiti and came to show support for Haiti's people.  "They have people who are here praying for them and hoping for the best," he said.

Medical and relief supplies from many countries have been arriving at the airport in Port-au-Prince.

Bob Remy of the Greater Washington Haiti Relief Committee says he is grateful for the outpouring of support. "We're going to need a lot of help for days, months, weeks, even years to come," Remy said.

The embassy has become a center for local relief efforts and disseminating  information.

Much of the phone service in Haiti is down and so getting information out has been a challenge.

Haiti's ambassador to Washington, Raymond Joseph, says Haiti asked for and is getting help from the U.S. State Department on restoring communication. "They sent in the technicians in Haiti and they are putting up a special communications system to help the government communicate with the people," Joseph explained.

Radio stations in Haiti, including some in the capital, are continuing to broadcast.  

Voice of America's Creole Service has expanded programming to Haiti and is relaying messages from Haitians in the U.S. to their relatives.

Haitians are desperate to learn whether friends and relatives have survived.  Jacques Jean Baptiste with VOA's Creole Service is among them.  His 96 year old father lives close to the collapsed³ presidential palace in Port-au-Prince.  "I am waiting for the phone call that will arrive and ease my anguish," he stated.

And so are many others.

1 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

2 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

3 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。