VOA慢速英语:700 Migrants Feared Dead in Mediterranean

Up to 700 migrants are believed to have died in the past week crossing the Mediterranean Sea, the United Nations said Tuesday.
据联合国周二的报告，约700移民确信已经于上周跨越地中海的航程中丧生。

At least three boats sank in the biggest death toll for migrants in more than a year, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said.
联合国难民事务署称，至少三艘船只沉没，这是一年多以来移民死亡最为惨重的一次。

The boats left Libya and were trying to reach Italy. Most of the migrants came from Africa.
这些船离开利比亚，试图到达意大利。大多数移民来自于非洲。

About 14,000 people were rescued in calmer seas since Monday, Reuters news agency reported. Survivors who arrived in Italy said one of the boats was carrying many women and children.
据路透社报道，自周一以来，约1,4000人在较平静的海域被救。到达意大利的幸存者们说，其中一只船上载着妇女和儿童。

The migrants pay smugglers to take them on small rubber boats or old fishing vessels. Many do not know how to swim and do not have life jackets.
移民们付钱给走私者，以乘坐他们的小橡皮艇或旧渔船。很多人不会游泳也没有救生艇。

Giovanna Benedetto is with the humanitarian group, Save the Children. She said the survivors spoke about horrible conditions on the boats.
乔凡娜·贝内德托是一名人道主义团体——“救救孩子”的成员。她说被救者说到了这些小船上的一些可怕的状况。

“They lived [in] terrible situations. They told us terrible stories. They saw killing people – only because those people want to have some food. Their stories are really, really terrifying.”
“他们生活在可怕的环境里。他们给我们讲恐怖的故事。他们见过杀人——仅仅因为那些人想要一些食物。他们的故事真的、真的太可怕了。”

The U.N. announced Tuesday that more than 2,500 migrants have died trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe so far this year.
联合国周二宣称迄今为止，今年已经有超过2500移民在试图穿越地中海进入欧洲的途中丧生。

That is a big increase from 1,855 people who died in the first five months of 2015.
这相比于2015年前5个月1855的死亡人数而言是一个很大的飞升。

The trip from North Africa to Italy is the deadliest way to cross, according to UNHCR spokesman William Spindler.
联合国难民事务署发言人威廉.斯平德勒称，从北非到意大利是死亡人数最多的一条线路。

“2,119 of the deaths reported so far this year have been among people making this journey, making the odds of dying as high as one in 23,” he said.
他说，今年迄今为止所报道的2119的死亡人数已经包括了此次行程中的死难者，使得死亡率高达1/23。

Most migrants traveling this way are from Nigeria and Gambia. Spindler said the migrants are risking everything to make the trips because they face very desperate conditions at home.
大多走这条航线的移民者都来自于尼日利亚和冈比亚。斯平德勒称移民们敢于冒一切风险而成行，是因为他们面临着国内非常绝望的局面。

“The reason why so many people are taking to sea at the moment, and risking their lives, is because they have no option. We have to give them the possibility to travel legally and safely.”
“这么多人选择海路、甘冒风险的原因，是他们没有选择。我们必须给予他们合法、安全出行的可能性。”