2006年VOA标准英语-Ongoing Violence Poses Numerous Challenges for

By Lisa Ferdinando
Miami
14 July 2006

A top U. N. official says at least 20 people, including children, have been killed in recent violence in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. Experts on Haiti express deep concern about the current situation in the impoverished¹ nation.

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People walk in front of bullet shells after confrontation² betwen U.N. peacekeepers and militant³ supporters of toppled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in the Pele Simon neighborhood of Cite Soleil    
  
The communications chief for the U.N. stabilization⁴ mission in Haiti, David Wimhurst, says the deadly violence erupted late last week between gangs in the slums of the capital.

He told VOA the United Nations has increased its patrols, and although the situation remains⁵ calm, there is reason to be concerned about the latest violence.

"I think this is an incident that was shocking, but is something also that might,we fear, signal the beginning of a more generalized security situation that's going to turn negative," he said.

He says securing the poorest areas in Port-au-Prince remains a challenge.

"We don't have control of these slum areas, and this is the main problem, and the government doesn't have the ability through its police force or through its justice system to effectively crack down on these sorts of gang operations," he explained.

Jean-Yves Clemenzo is a communication delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Haiti. He has been working in Port-au-Prince for a year.

"The last two weeks have been a little bit more difficult," he said, " there has been again a rise of violence, so it's more difficult to live now in Port-au-Prince. The basic humanitarian⁶ conditions haven't changed so much in one year, there are still basic needs to be fulfilled for the majority of the population in Port-au-Prince."

Rene Preval (File photo)  
  
Clemenzo says it is calm outside the capital, but life remains difficult throughout the entire country. He said the elections earlier this year, in which Rene Preval became president, were a positive step and now Haiti needs the support of international donors⁷.

"I think what is important now is that countries don't forget Haiti, there have been elections in February, many people took part in the elections," he said. "They elected a president, it's a very good sign. Now Haitian people need help and the international community has to support Haiti."

Philip Brenner, who is a professor of international relations at American University in Washington D.C., says health and security issues of Haiti should be of concern beyond that country's borders.

"You have disease that is becoming very rampant⁸ in Haiti, diseases that get transmitted and as people migrate, they'll migrate to the rest of the hemisphere," he said. "It becomes in everyone's interest to try to stabilize⁹ the situation of such extraordinary poverty."

Wimhurst, meanwhile points out that reform is needed in Haiti's judicial¹⁰ and police system, and the country needs investment and a long-term commitment for development.

"Until the situation in the poorest areas of the city is rectified¹¹, in the sense that the conditions in which people live, in which gangs flourish can be changed by investment by providing minimum standards of health and water, providing

electricity, and reengaging the economy so jobs are created, all of which are big pieces of a large puzzle, this situation is going to continue," he said.

An international donors conference for Haiti is set for July 25 in Port-au-Prince.

1 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

3 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

4 Stabilization   

稳定化

参考例句：

• The position of barycentre on plane directly impacts the stabilization and manipulation of plane. 飞机重心位置直接影响飞机的稳定和操纵特性。
• With the higher olefins, stabilization of the energetic intermediates occurs more easily. 在较高的烯烃情况下，高能的中间物稳定作用更易出现。

5 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。

6 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。

7 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

9 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

10 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

11 rectified   

[医]矫正的，调整的

参考例句：

• I am hopeful this misunderstanding will be rectified very quickly. 我相信这个误会将很快得到纠正。
• That mistake could have been rectified within 28 days. 那个错误原本可以在28天内得以纠正。