VOA标准英语2008年-UN Says 1 Million Burmese Children at Risk Afte

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
16 May 2008

A United Nations agency says that as many as one million children may be at risk of disease following Cyclone¹ Nargis. As Ron Corben reports from Bangkok, the concerns come as efforts continue to persuade Burma's military government to grant greater access to international relief agencies.

The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, reports that tens of thousands of children are living outdoors, with little shelter from the monsoon² rains.

Shantha Bloeman, a UNICEF spokeswoman in Thailand, says children make up 30 to 40 percent of the victims of Cyclone Nargis, which hit Burma, also known as Myanmar, two weeks ago.

"The situation remains³ dire⁴ for children in Myanmar," said Bloeman. "Their physical and emotional well-being⁵ is of critical concern. Assessment⁶ reports indicate the destruction of homes, schools; water and sanitation⁷ systems are unrelenting threats to child survivors⁸."

Bloeman said Friday the children face diseases such as cholera⁹, and are vulnerable to exploitation and sexual abuse. Aid groups are trying to ensure that children remain with families or relatives to protect them.

The United Nations says up to 2.5 million people were affected¹⁰ by cyclone - the worst natural disaster in Burma in recent times. The official death toll¹¹ is more than 43,000, but aid organizations estimate it could reach 128,000.

Pressure remains on Burma's military to allow international aid agencies greater access to the region to help survivors. A medical team from Thailand was due to arrive Friday to support relief efforts.

Steve Marshall, a spokesman for the U.N. country team in Burma, says that some aid is reaching the region, but it is insufficient¹². He says a much bigger international effort is needed.

"The issue of access in terms of our staff, as I've indicated, they are down there and they are working," said Marshall. "But the size of this for the government for the U.N. or for others actually requires a completely cooperative coordinated¹³ approach and it is too big for any one institution on its own to say it can look after things. It is simply too big."

Aid workers estimate that they have been able to reach less than a third of the storm's victims.

In the coming days, the U.N. humanitarian¹⁴ chief, John Holmes, will arrive in Rangoon to discuss relief efforts with the government. On Monday, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will meet in Singapore to discuss how to increase aid to Burma, which is a member.

1 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。

2 monsoon   

n.季雨，季风，大雨

参考例句：

• The monsoon rains started early this year.今年季雨降雨开始得早。
• The main climate type in that region is monsoon.那个地区主要以季风气候为主要气候类型。

3 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

4 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

5 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

6 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

7 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。

8 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

9 cholera   

n.霍乱

参考例句：

• The cholera outbreak has been contained.霍乱的发生已被控制住了。
• Cholera spread like wildfire through the camps.霍乱在营地里迅速传播。

10 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。

11 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。

12 insufficient   

adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的

参考例句：

• There was insufficient evidence to convict him.没有足够证据给他定罪。
• In their day scientific knowledge was insufficient to settle the matter.在他们的时代，科学知识还不能足以解决这些问题。

13 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

14 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。