2007年VOA标准英语-Peru Adds Troops in Quake-Hit Areas

By Brian Wagner
Miami
19 August 2007

Peru's government has deployed 1,000 more troops to help distribute aid and ensure calm in areas hit by an earthquake that killed at least 500 people. In Miami, VOA's Brian Wagner reports that damage from the quake continues to hamper¹ relief efforts across central Peru.

Soldiers patrol the streets of Pisco, 19 Aug 2007

Military officials ordered more troops into affected² towns amid reports that shipments of relief supplies had been looted and that tensions were rising among displaced survivors³. Residents and officials say relief aid has been slow to arrive in some areas, because of damage to roads and other infrastructure⁴ by the 8.0 magnitude quake that struck central Peru on Wednesday.

Several international aid groups have sent teams to assist in relief efforts. The Peru country director for CARE International, Milo Stanojevich, says his teams are focussing their efforts on the provinces of Ica and Huancavelica, where government supplies have been slow to arrive.

"There is an airlift, a military airport in Pisco, so most of the government aid has been going there. So we figured our best role is to work in communities that are more out of the way and where aid is not reaching," said Milo Stanojevich.

Stanojevich says his teams are working to provide water, blankets and flashlights to survivors, as well as tents for some of the 30,000 families left homeless in the quake.

He adds that tension has been rising in recent days because of concern over looting and possible violence, partly caused by reports that 600 prisoners had escaped after the quake destroyed a prison near the town of Chincha.

"Word is that the prisoners are looting. But I think it is a combination of things. People who are getting desperate for supplies, and other people are taking advantage of the situation," added Stanojevich.

The U.S. government has released $150,000 in emergency aid to Peru, and is providing two medical teams to assist victims of the quake. 

1 hamper   

vt.妨碍，束缚，限制；n.(有盖的)大篮子

参考例句：

• There are some apples in a picnic hamper.在野餐用的大篮子里有许多苹果。
• The emergence of such problems seriously hamper the development of enterprises.这些问题的出现严重阻碍了企业的发展。

2 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。

3 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

4 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。