VOA标准英语2014--联合国空运紧急救援物资到利比里亚

 

UNICEF Airlifts Supplies to Liberia 联合国空运紧急救援物资到利比里亚

The U.N. children’s fund – UNICEF – has begun airlifting emergency supplies to Liberia, the country hardest hit by the West Africa Ebola epidemic¹. A cargo² plane carrying nearly 70 metric tons arrived in Monrovia on Saturday.

UNICEF’s Representative in Liberia Sheldon Yetts says the supplies are needed to bolster³ protection against the Ebola virus.

“The largest component⁴ of the supplies was chlorine. And chlorine is a key ingredient here used for disinfection, which as you might imagine in the circumstances in Liberia is needed in all health centers and is needed in Ebola treatment centers,” he said.

The shipment included 27 metric tons of chlorine in all.

Yetts said, “We also had ORS, oral rehydration salts. We also had sodium⁵ lactate, which is also used to help ensure people are rehydrated. And we had about 900,000 gloves, which of course is also very important for infection control. The shipment also includes read-to-use therapeutic⁶ food, which is helpful for patients, who are undergoing treatment, and other basic supplies.”

The U.S. Agency for International Development – USAID – helped to   pay for the first flight. Also, the agency’s Ebola Disaster Assistance Response Team is helping⁷ with delivery.

Yetts said another plane load of supplies is expected in Monrovia Tuesday. The second flight is supported by the Liberian government and World Bank.

“UNICEF is supporting the effort, making arrangements. And ensuring supplies are purchased at the most competitive costs. But this is a government-driven airlift,” he said.”

The second flight will bring more chlorine and emergency supplies to protect health workers and civilians⁸ alike.

“Health workers have suffered a disproportionate number of casualties from Ebola. We need to make sure that health centers are disinfected so the health centers are safe. And that people in Liberia feel free and safe to return to health centers. There are many, many other diseases, of course, that are endemic here. Cholera⁹ is here. Malaria¹⁰ is here and many common diseases. We don’t want people dying from preventable diseases because they don’t feel safe to use health services,” said Yetts.

More airlifts will be carried out in the coming weeks to Liberia.

But Yetts said despite the airlifts, a lot more personnel and supplies are needed.  

“We really need more boots on the ground. We need more support from our technical partners. And we need more resources. I’ve been in emergencies all around the world and I’ve been struck at how slow resources have been in coming here. We need additional support. Not just financial support, but also technical capacity. We work hand in hand with our NGO partners all around the world. We need them to come here to Liberia, too.”

Yetts said the Ebola outbreak has generated a lot of fear, but he says medical workers can safely work in the country. He said UNICEF is taking a leading role in a multi-media awareness¹¹ campaign in Liberia.

“We’ve got teams going door-to-door in the most effected counties of the country. We’ve got radio campaigns going on in various languages. We’ve got pop songs on the radio giving the message. We’ve got one minute plays that are being produced. So, we’re using every avenue we can to make sure people understand what they can do to keep themselves safe from Ebola and what they can do to stop the spread of the disease.”

UNICEF is also providing motorcycles so community health workers can travel to many Liberian communities. 

More than 600 people have died of Ebola in Liberia.

1 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

2 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

3 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

4 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

5 sodium   

n.（化）钠

参考例句：

• Out over the town the sodium lights were lit.在外面，全城的钠光灯都亮了。
• Common salt is a compound of sodium and chlorine.食盐是钠和氯的复合物。

6 therapeutic   

adj.治疗的，起治疗作用的；对身心健康有益的

参考例句：

• Therapeutic measures were selected to fit the patient.选择治疗措施以适应病人的需要。
• When I was sad,music had a therapeutic effect.我悲伤的时候，音乐有治疗效力。

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

8 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

9 cholera   

n.霍乱

参考例句：

• The cholera outbreak has been contained.霍乱的发生已被控制住了。
• Cholera spread like wildfire through the camps.霍乱在营地里迅速传播。

10 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。

11 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。