您现在的位置是:首页 > 英语听力 > VOA英语听力下载|VOA news > voa标准英语|美国之音常速英语下载|在线收听
正文
VOA常速英语:UN Launches Multimillion Dollar Appeal for Philippines Disaster
2009-10-07来源:和谐英语
音频下载[点击右键另存为]
The United Nations is appealing for $74 million to provide emergency assistance to hundreds of thousands of victims of two catastrophic typhoons that have struck the Philippines in less than two weeks.
The Philippines government estimates that nearly four million people have been affected by Typhoon Ketsana, which struck the capital, Manila, and surrounding areas on September 26th.
To compound the situation, a second devastating storm, Typhoon Parma, made landfall in northern Luzon on October 3 and 4. The impact of that storm was not as great as Ketsana, but the United Nations warns that its effects will likely worsen the flooding already occurring.
The Philippines government puts the number of people dead from Typhoon Ketsana at about 300, with dozens of others missing. The United Nations says an estimated 420,000 people are living in emergency shelters around Manila.
Tropical Storm Parma occurred in an isolated farming region, so there was limited loss of life. But the United Nations says there was major crop damage. The World Food Program, or WFP, is part of a joint U.N. team assessing the needs of the victims.
Spokeswoman Emilia Cassela says one of the WFP aid workers gave a graphic account of what he saw.
"He says he traveled by boat to reach the beneficiaries," she said. "What he saw was, at best, heartbreaking. The people were receiving the assistance standing or waiting in almost neck deep water and the only way to reach these people was by boat. The boats were being used to pass the food assistance to the people."
Casella says the WFP is expanding assistance to feed up to one-million people during the next three months. In addition, the agency is providing air support for the humanitarian community. She says the WFP will receive almost one-third of the $74 million U.N. appeal.
The World Health Organization reports there has been extensive damage to hospitals and health clinics throughout the flooded areas. It says that, so far, there have not been any major outbreaks of disease.
But the WHO says the fear of epidemics is rising because of the lack of safe drinking water and proper sanitation, and desperate living conditions.
The U.N. Children's Fund says it too is concerned about the risk of epidemics and their potential impact on children and lactating women. It says it has delivered hundreds of hygiene kits and is disseminating information about best hygiene practices.
The United Nations says food, water, sanitation and hygiene relief remain the highest priorities.
相关文章
- VOA常速英语:日增20万确诊病例,印度疫情失控
- VOA常速英语:美国驱逐10名俄罗斯外交官
- VOA常速英语:US Marks One Year of Pandemic Shutdown with Hope, Concern
- VOA常速英语:US Senate Nears Vote on $1.9 Trillion Biden COVID Aid Package
- VOA常速英语:What Is Clubhouse and Why Did It Get So Popular?
- VOA常速英语:Thermal Water Helps Recovering COVID Patients
- VOA常速英语:Deadly Drug Overdoses Epidemic Rages On
- VOA常速英语:International Women’s Day Marks Year of Increased Hardships for Women Worldwide
- VOA常速英语:US States Relax Restrictions, Health Officials Warn Against It
- VOA常速英语:Virginia Starts Reopening Schools for In-Person Learning