美国国家公共电台 NPR--Aid to Ukraine is vital this winter as Russia keeps up its attack on infrastructure

Aid to Ukraine is vital this winter as Russia keeps up its attack on infrastructure¹

Transcript²

As Russia's bombardment of Ukraine's infrastructure continues, the Ukrainian government is set to receive more than $4 billion in aid from the U.S. to help keep basic services running.

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

Ukraine's government is about to receive more than $4 billion in aid from the U.S. to help keep basic services running. The money will be vital this winter as Russia continues to damage or destroy so much of Ukraine's infrastructure. NPR's Joanna Kakissis reports from Kyiv.

JOANNA KAKISSIS, BYLINE³: Ukraine's capital is cold and snowy. And those who live here are weathering repeated power cuts brought on by the ceaseless Russian attacks. Oxana Visnyuk (ph) wears extra sweaters to warm herself. But the electricity cuts cause other problems.

OXANA VISNYUK: I currently work from home. So every problem with electricity lower my work performance.

KAKISSIS: She says she is relieved that some of the latest funding from the U.S. is set to subsidize utilities here and housing. The U.S. is giving the latest tranche of money directly to the Ukrainian government, mostly to pay doctors, teachers and emergency responders.

TANYA LEMESHKO: (Through interpreter) It would be harder for hospitals to operate without this aid from U.S. partners.

KAKISSIS: Tanya Lemeshko is a paramedic in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

LEMESHKO: (Non-English language spoken).

KAKISSIS: She says keeping hospitals, emergency services and schools running helps create stability that's crucial for Ukrainians trying to survive under siege. And she adds that Western aid also helps keep jobs and salaries intact.

LEMESHKO: (Through interpreter) People have work. They have a place to go. They have salaries. So this is a psychological thing.

KAKISSIS: The top USAID official, Samantha Power, explains why this tranche of money is so important.

SAMANTHA POWER: For Ukraine to win the war against Putin, it is going to need more than just weapons, more than just military hardware. It's going to need banking⁴ services to keep the economy afloat, schools where teachers are paid, hospitals where health workers can go to work knowing that they can support their families when they get home.

KAKISSIS: She says that all aid to Ukraine has come with strong bipartisan support from Congress. But that could change with the Republicans taking control of the House of Representatives, with some hinting that they want closer scrutiny⁵ of the funds. The money will be distributed over the next few weeks.

Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kyiv.

(SOUNDBITE OF LIBRARY TAPES AND JULIA KENT'S "A SUMMER BY THE SEA I")

1 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

4 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

5 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。