VOA慢速英语2015 全世界帮助尼泊尔应对地震

World Reaches Out to Nepal After Deadly Earthquake 全世界帮助尼泊尔应对地震

As reports of the death toll¹ rise in Nepal, countries and relief organizations around the world are rushing to send personnel and supplies to aid the search and rescue effort.

Within hours after the earthquake struck Nepal on Saturday, April 25, India sent teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) along with relief supplies to help the neighboring country.

Xinhua, the Chinese state-run news agency reports that a 62-member China International Search-and-Rescue Team left for Nepal early Sunday with six sniffer dogs and medical equipment.

The U.S. responded with an initial pledge of $1 million in disaster relief. On Sunday afternoon, the Pentagon said that a US military plane has left with more than 70 personnel, six search dogs and 45 tons of cargo².

Other nations pledging their support for the search and rescue efforts include Germany, France, Great Britain, Israel, Swizerland and the United Arab Emirates.

According to the Associated Press, U.N. spokeswoman Orla Fagan says 14 international medical teams and about 15 search-and-rescue teams are on the way to Nepal. She adds, “They need to get in as soon as possible.” By Sunday, the death toll had risen above 2,500. There are many more reportedly injured and homeless.

UNICEF says that at least 940,000 children will require immediate³ aid. The organization is also readying two flights with a combined 120 metric tons of medical supplies, tents and blankets for urgent airlift to Katmandu. 

Along the Nepal-India border, four medical teams from Doctors Without Borders are heading to the quake-affected area. Other teams of doctors from Brussels, Amsterdam and Japan are on their way to provide medical assistance.

For individuals who want to help, Charity Navigator lists the organizations that plan to assist in the relief efforts. Among the organizations are:

1 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。

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 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。