VOA标准英语2010年-US Promises Aid for Chile Quake Victim

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the United States is preparing an extensive aid package for Chile after Saturday's powerful earthquake that killed more than 700 people and displaced an estimated two million.  Clinton made a brief stop in Santiago to meet with Chile's president, who has pledged swift delivery of food and supplies to those in need - and a crackdown on looting and lawlessness.

Secretary of State Clinton cut short what was initially¹ planned as a day-long visit to Chile, meeting with President Michelle Bachelet at Santiago's main airport for about an hour.

Clinton personally handed Ms. Bachelet one of 25 satellite phones the United States is donating to Chile, the first installment² of a substantial U.S. aid package for the South American nation.

"We are sending eight water purification units," Clinton said. "They are on their way.  We have identified a mobile field hospital unit with surgical³ capabilities⁴ that is ready to go.  We are working to fill the need for autonomous⁵ dialysis machines.  We are ready to purchase and send electricity generators⁶, medical supplies, and are working to identify and send portable bridges so that some of the remote places that lost their bridges will be able to be reconnected to the country."

Clinton noted⁷ that Chile dispatched search and rescue teams to Haiti after January's devastating⁸ earthquake in the Caribbean nation, and said the United States will do all it can to assist Chile in its hour of need.

President Bachelet thanked Clinton and the United States.  She stressed her government's determination to assist those in need.

She said she wants to reach every location as quickly as possible, every corner of the country that has been affected⁹ by the disaster to provide what people need.

But for Chileans who have gone days without food, fresh drinking water, and shelter, that aid cannot come quickly enough.  Like many coastal¹⁰ communities, Constitucion was dealt a double-blow by the earthquake, which shook the town violently for more than a minute and then unleashed¹¹ ocean waves that caused even more damage and loss of life. 

Many residents say the disaster left them destitute¹².

One woman says everyone is suffering, particularly the elderly.  She says the entire town is desperate.

A man says he lacks milk and diapers for his children.  He says food and water are urgently needed. 

President Bachelet has appealed for patience and understanding, saying help is on the way, but the government has huge logistical challenges to overcome.  In the meantime, she has ordered additional security forces to the disaster zone, saying looting and lawlessness must end and that the government will act with what she termed the "severity necessary" to prevent crime.

She says those who do not understand the need for order will be met by the law, because these actions cannot be tolerated.

Authorities in Concepcion, Chile's second-most populous¹³ city, instituted a curfew to curb¹⁴ widespread looting.  At the same time, some residents have taken security matters into their own hands, forming "self-defense" units to protect homes and local businesses.

Chile has received pledges of support from the United Nations and many international organizations.  Nations throughout the Americas, as well as the European Union, Japan and China have also promised assistance.

 

1 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

2 installment   

n.(instalment)分期付款；(连载的)一期

参考例句：

• I shall soon pay the last installment of my debt.不久我将偿付我的最后一期债款。
• He likes to buy things on the installment plan.他喜欢用分期付款法购买货物。

3 surgical   

adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的

参考例句：

• He performs the surgical operations at the Red Cross Hospital.他在红十字会医院做外科手术。
• All surgical instruments must be sterilised before use.所有的外科手术器械在使用之前，必须消毒。

4 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

5 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

6 generators   

n.发电机，发生器( generator的名词复数 )；电力公司

参考例句：

• The factory's emergency generators were used during the power cut. 工厂应急发电机在停电期间用上了。
• Power can be fed from wind generators into the electricity grid system. 电力可以从风力发电机流入输电网。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 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。

8 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。

9 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。

10 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

11 unleashed   

v.把（感情、力量等）释放出来，发泄( unleash的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The government's proposals unleashed a storm of protest in the press. 政府的提案引发了新闻界的抗议浪潮。
• The full force of his rage was unleashed against me. 他把所有的怒气都发泄在我身上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 destitute   

adj.缺乏的；穷困的

参考例句：

• They were destitute of necessaries of life.他们缺少生活必需品。
• They are destitute of common sense.他们缺乏常识。

13 populous   

adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的

参考例句：

• London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
• China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。

14 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。