2007年VOA标准英语-Aid Groups Say Violence Prevents Them from Reac

By Alisha Ryu
Nairobi
21 February 2007

International aid agencies are expressing frustration¹ and alarm at their lack of access to several needy² regions of Somalia because of continuing insecurity. VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu in our East Africa Bureau in Nairobi reports.

 
Transitional Federal Government soldiers in Bur Haqaba, south of Baidoa, Somalia, 28 Dec 2006
The spokeswoman for the Office of U.N.'s Coordination³ for Humanitarian⁴ Affairs in Nairobi says access to towns and villages in some parts of south-central Somalia has improved dramatically since January.

That is when Somali government forces, backed by Ethiopian troops, defeated the country's powerful Islamist movement and drove its leaders out of power.

But the OCHA spokeswoman, Amanda Di Lorenzo, tells VOA that the worsening security situation in other parts of Somalia, where humanitarian needs are the greatest, has limited humanitarian access to a critical level.

"We now have access to locations that we have not had for a long time - for example to Galkaayo in central Somalia," she said. "In south central, there has been some improvement in access to areas that we were unable to access before, either because of the seasonal⁵ flooding of roads or the conflict itself. But areas, such as the Lower and Middle Juba, remain a concern to us."

Earlier last year, much of southern Somalia, stretching west to the Kenyan border and northeast to Mogadishu, suffered a crippling drought and then severe flooding, which killed scores of people and left tens of thousands homeless.

At the height of the conflict between the Islamist militia⁶ and the government's Ethiopian-backed troops in December, Kenya closed its border with Somalia for security reasons. The border closure has slowed overland transport of humanitarian supplies from Kenya to a trickle⁷.

Access by air has also been restricted. The airport in Kismayo, a key hub for delivering humanitarian supplies to Lower and Middle Juba region, remain closed to humanitarian flights because of on-going military operations in the area.

 
Residents of Mogadishu flock at a public transport terminus as they join a mass exodus⁸, triggered by spiraling violence in Somalia's capital, 21 Feb 2007
Meanwhile, the main seaport⁹ and airport in the capital, Mogadishu, have become prime targets of insurgents¹⁰ opposed to the interim¹² government and its Ethiopian allies. Violence has hampered¹³ efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to people enduring near daily attacks there.

Now, a deadly viral disease called Rift¹⁴ Valley Fever that affects domestic animals and humans, is threatening to spread from Kenya into Somalia.

Aid agencies are warning that unless emergency assistance and supplies are increased immediately, a serious humanitarian crisis could develop in the country.

Said Warsame, an information officer with the U.N.'s World Food Program Somalia, said, "We need security to reach the people. We need to move food from the port of entry to where the people are. So, whenever there is some security incident, that prevents us."

In an effort to stabilize¹⁵ the country, the African Union is planning to deploy¹⁶ several thousand peacekeepers in Somalia. The first contingent¹⁷ of Ugandan troops is expected in Mogadishu within days.

But on Wednesday, a militant¹⁸ Islamist insurgent¹¹ group renewed its threat to fight any foreign troops sent into the country.

1 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

2 needy   

adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的

参考例句：

• Although he was poor,he was quite generous to his needy friends.他虽穷，但对贫苦的朋友很慷慨。
• They awarded scholarships to needy students.他们给贫苦学生颁发奖学金。

3 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

4 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。

5 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。

6 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

7 trickle   

vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散

参考例句：

• The stream has thinned down to a mere trickle.这条小河变成细流了。
• The flood of cars has now slowed to a trickle.汹涌的车流现在已经变得稀稀拉拉。

8 exodus   

v.大批离去，成群外出

参考例句：

• The medical system is facing collapse because of an exodus of doctors.由于医生大批离去，医疗系统面临崩溃。
• Man's great challenge at this moment is to prevent his exodus from this planet.人在当前所遇到的最大挑战，就是要防止人从这个星球上消失。

9 seaport   

n.海港，港口，港市

参考例句：

• Ostend is the most important seaport in Belgium.奥斯坦德是比利时最重要的海港。
• A seaport where ships can take on supplies of coal.轮船能够补充煤炭的海港。

10 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

11 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

12 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

13 hampered   

妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions. 恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
• So thought every harassed, hampered, respectable boy in St. Petersburg. 圣彼德堡镇的那些受折磨、受拘束的体面孩子们个个都是这么想的。

14 rift   

n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入

参考例句：

• He was anxious to mend the rift between the two men.他急于弥合这两个人之间的裂痕。
• The sun appeared through a rift in the clouds.太阳从云层间隙中冒出来。

15 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。

16 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

17 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。

18 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。