2007年VOA标准英语-Thousands of Children in Flood-Stricken Pakista

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
04 August 2007

The United Nations Children's Fund says it is concerned that tens of thousands of primary school children in flood-stricken parts of Pakistan will miss out on school, because it has not received much-needed funding from the international community. UNICEF says it needs less than $1 million to help many of these children resume their education when school re-opens in mid-August.  Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva. 

Pakistani villagers move out from a flooded area in Shahdad Kot district near Hyderabad, in Pakistan, 03 Jul 2007 (file photo)

U.N. officials say Baluchistan and Sindh provinces in southwest Pakistan are still suffering from the effects of torrential rains that hit the area following a devastating¹ cyclone² in late June.  The United Nations Children's Fund says it is afraid primary school education could become one of the casualties of the floods.

U.N. officials say the toll³ on educational facilities has been severe.  UNICEF says more than 1,400 schools have been affected⁴ and more than 200 schools have been washed away.  In addition, it says about 140 school buildings are being used to shelter families that have lost their homes during the floods.

UNICEF says more than 67,000 primary school-going children could miss out on quality education when schools re-open in mid-August.  Spokeswoman, Veronique Taveau says last month, the agency appealed for $6.3 million to provide water and sanitation⁵ and educational services for the flood victims.

"The water and sanitation interventions⁶ have been fully⁷ funded, but not education," she noted⁸.  "We need urgently almost $900,000 and out of that amount of money, we have only received $60,000.  So, if we want the schools to re-open and if we want the children of the two of the most affected regions in Pakistan to be back to school, we urgently need that money." 

School enrollment⁹ rates in Baluchistan and rural Sindh are the lowest in the country, particularly for girls.  UNICEF says it worries that many of the few children that are going to school will drop out if something is not done right away to help them continue their primary education.

Taveau tells VOA the money is needed to help 20,000 of the most vulnerable children go back to school.

"The money will be used to rehabilitate¹⁰ the schools and also to provide the teachers equipment that they need," she added.  "But, also to provide psychological help for the children when they do go back to the schools because of the trauma¹¹ they have had because of the floods." 

Despite the lack of funds, UNICEF is working with local education authorities to support the reopening of the schools on time.  Taveau says the agency already has distributed 80 school-in- the-box kits¹³.  Each kit¹² contains learning and teaching material for 80 students and one teacher.

In the coming weeks, Taveau says, UNICEF plans to provide other essential school supplies so all school children affected by the floods can continue their education.

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 cyclone   

n.旋风，龙卷风

参考例句：

• An exceptionally violent cyclone hit the town last night.昨晚异常猛烈的旋风吹袭了那个小镇。
• The cyclone brought misery to thousands of people.旋风给成千上万的人带来苦难。

3 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

4 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。

5 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

6 interventions   

n.介入，干涉，干预( intervention的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Economic analysis of government interventions deserves detailed discussion. 政府对经济的干预应该给予充分的论述。 来自辞典例句
• The judge's frequent interventions made a mockery of justice. 法官的屡屡干预是对正义的践踏。 来自互联网

7 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

8 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。

9 enrollment   

n.注册或登记的人数；登记

参考例句：

• You will be given a reading list at enrollment.注册时你会收到一份阅读书目。
• I just got the enrollment notice from Fudan University.我刚刚接到复旦大学的入学通知书。

10 rehabilitate   

vt.改造(罪犯)，修复；vi.复兴，(罪犯)经受改造

参考例句：

• There was no money to rehabilitate the tower.没有资金修复那座塔。
• He used exercise programmes to rehabilitate the patients.他采用体育锻炼疗法使患者恢复健康。

11 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

12 kit   

n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物

参考例句：

• The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
• The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。

13 kits   

衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件

参考例句：

• Keep your kits closed and locked when not in use. 不用的话把你的装备都锁好放好。
• Gifts Articles, Toy and Games, Wooden Toys, Puzzles, Craft Kits. 采购产品礼品，玩具和游戏，木制的玩具，智力玩具，手艺装备。