VOA慢速英語：地中海700移民兇多吉少

700 Migrants Feared Dead in Mediterranean

地中海700移民兇多吉少

Up to 700 migrants are believed to have died in the past week crossing the Mediterranean Sea, the United Nations said Tuesday.

據(jù)聯(lián)合國周二的報告，約700移民確信已經(jīng)于上周跨越地中海的航程中喪生。

At least three boats sank in the biggest death toll for migrants in more than a year, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said.

聯(lián)合國難民事務署稱，至少三艘船只沉沒，這是一年多以來移民死亡最為慘重的一次。

The boats left Libya and were trying to reach Italy. Most of the migrants came from Africa.

這些船離開利比亞，試圖到達意大利。大多數(shù)移民來自于非洲。

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.

據(jù)路透社報道，自周一以來，約1,4000人在較平靜的海域被救。到達意大利的幸存者們說，其中一只船上載著婦女和兒童。

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.

移民們付錢給走私者，以乘坐他們的小橡皮艇或舊漁船。很多人不會游泳也沒有救生艇。

Giovanna Benedetto is with the humanitarian group, Save the Children. She said the survivors spoke about horrible conditions on the boats.

喬凡娜·貝內德托是一名人道主義團體——“救救孩子”的成員。她說被救者說到了這些小船上的一些可怕的狀況。

“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.”

“他們生活在可怕的環(huán)境里。他們給我們講恐怖的故事。他們見過殺人——僅僅因為那些人想要一些食物。他們的故事真的、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.

聯(lián)合國周二宣稱迄今為止，今年已經(jīng)有超過2500移民在試圖穿越地中海進入歐洲的途中喪生。

That is a big increase from 1,855 people who died in the first five months of 2015.

這相比于2015年前5個月1855的死亡人數(shù)而言是一個很大的飛升。

The trip from North Africa to Italy is the deadliest way to cross, according to UNHCR spokesman William Spindler.

聯(lián)合國難民事務署發(fā)言人威廉.斯平德勒稱，從北非到意大利是死亡人數(shù)最多的一條線路。

“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.

他說，今年迄今為止所報道的2119的死亡人數(shù)已經(jīng)包括了此次行程中的死難者，使得死亡率高達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.

大多走這條航線的移民者都來自于尼日利亞和岡比亞。斯平德勒稱移民們敢于冒一切風險而成行，是因為他們面臨著國內非常絕望的局面。

“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.”

“這么多人選擇海路、甘冒風險的原因，是他們沒有選擇。我們必須給予他們合法、安全出行的可能性。”

I’m Bryan Lynn.

布萊恩·林恩報道。

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Words in This Story

calm – n. a quiet and peaceful state

smuggler – n. a person who illegally moves people or things from one country to another

vessel – n. – a large boat of ship

journey – n. the act of traveling from one place to another