VOA标准英语2011--Life in Haiti's Tent Cities Differs by Location

Life in Haiti's Tent Cities Differs by Location

More than half of Haitians who were made homeless by the 2010 earthquake have left their temporary quarters. But 600,000 of them are still living in tent cities, in and around the capital, Port au Prince. Living conditions are deplorable with no running water or electricity, but they aren't all the same.

Nicole Norgilus lives here with her son Jefferson. She waits outside her tent all day for someone to buy charcoal¹ from her for cooking. After three hours of waiting, one customer arrives.

"I remember the way I used to live. I had a bigger business, better than this," recalled Norgilus.

She and 2,000 others wound up living in tents. The charcoal she sells cooks her food. Outdoor toilets stand across the street next to a public school. But no tent city children attend school, because of the cost.

Residents say they have no way to move out without government help.

"I don't even pray anymore because I'm so discouraged," added Norgilus.

A few blocks away, there was a remarkably² different tent city. In this one, the sidewalks are clean. The children attend school run by GHESKIO, a non-profit medical organization. A trade school trains residents to build their own houses. There is security and street lights at night. Each tent has an address. They still lack the comforts of home. Except for one tent belonging to the president of the residents' committee, Dr. Mireille Perk³, who is in charge of community activities.

"We have better living. Like home, like solidarity⁴ to each other and autonomy," noted⁵ Perk.

With the foundations of a stable community here, many residents appear to be settling in to stay. Dr. Jean Pape says that is not the goal who GHESKIO and the tent city.

"Our next move is to take them back to the slum⁶ where they were before," said Pape.

Pape says he's looking for money to do that, one year of rent each or enough to repair each house. But the money does not seem to be coming any time soon for the 5,000 here. Or, the 2,000 living with Nicole and Jefferson Norgilus.

1 charcoal   

n.炭，木炭，生物炭

参考例句：

• We need to get some more charcoal for the barbecue.我们烧烤需要更多的碳。
• Charcoal is used to filter water.木炭是用来过滤水的。

2 remarkably   

ad.不同寻常地，相当地

参考例句：

• I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
• He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。

3 perk   

n.额外津贴；赏钱；小费；

参考例句：

• His perks include a car provided by the firm.他的额外津贴包括公司提供的一辆汽车。
• And the money is,of course,a perk.当然钱是额外津贴。

4 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

5 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。

6 slum   

n.贫民窟，贫民区；vi.（因好奇而）逛贫民区

参考例句：

• These children came from a slum area.这些孩子来自贫民窟区。
• What a wretched existence the people in the slum lead!这个贫民窟里的人们过着多么令人悲惨的生活啊！