2007年VOA标准英语-UNHCR Says Countries Closing Doors to Refugees

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
20 June 2007

In marking this year's observance of World Refugee Day, the U.N. refugee agency is warning more countries are closing their doors to refugees because of growing intolerance and a fear of terrorism.  The agency says genuine asylum¹ seekers are being turned away and refused a safe haven² at a time when an increasing number of people are fleeing violence, persecution³ and oppression.  Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.

The U.N. refugee agency says a growing number of countries around the world are hardening their attitudes toward refugees and refusing to grant them asylum.  This is mainly occurring in the industrialized world.  But, is also becoming a problem in some developing countries.

UNHCR spokesman William Spindler says intolerance, xenophobia or fear of foreigners and racism⁴ is on the increase.  He says many governments confuse asylum seekers, who are fleeing for their lives, with economic migrants, who are in search of a better future.

Sudanese refugees (File photo)

"What is important to remember is that the vast majority of refugees are people who have been forced from their homes by violence," Spindler said. "If we look at the main countries of origin of refugees, these are Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, Burundi, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  These are all countries that have undergone conflicts recently or are in the middle of a conflict.  So, the impression that refugees are somehow ogres or people who are trying to take advantage of our generosity⁵ is completely wrong.  Most people are fleeing desperate situations in which their life is at risk." 

Spindler says countries in North America and Europe are under the false impression they are hosting huge numbers of refugees.  He says the vast majority is in poor countries.

A new report shows the number of refugees rose by 14 percent last year to nearly 10 million.  And, it finds 24.5 million people have been uprooted⁶ by conflict inside their own countries. 

Despite this dismal⁷ picture, Spindler says there are pockets of hope.  He says last year, more than 700,000 refugees returned home after years of living in exile.  He says it is this message of hope High Commissioner⁸ Antonio Guterres wants to get across on this World Refugee Day. 

Iraqi children drink water from taps at a refugee camp for internally displaced people outside Najaf, Iraq, 16 June 2007

 "The reason why the High Commissioner is in south Sudan is to remind the world that despite the horrors of Darfur, the critical situation in Iraq, and displacement⁹ in many other parts of the world, there is still hope," Spindler said. "And, people are returning to countries that have been devastated¹⁰ by years of conflict." 

Refugee spokesman Spindler notes it is one thing to get the refugees home.  It is quite another to keep them home.  He says it is important that the international community support post-conflict reconstruction¹¹ so these returns are sustainable and durable¹².

He says it would be tragic¹³ to have a return to conflict and find that people, once again, are on the move.

1 asylum   

n.避难所，庇护所，避难

参考例句：

• The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
• Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。

2 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

3 persecution   

n. 迫害,烦扰

参考例句：

• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
• Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。

4 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

5 generosity   

n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为

参考例句：

• We should match their generosity with our own.我们应该像他们一样慷慨大方。
• We adore them for their generosity.我们钦佩他们的慷慨。

6 uprooted   

v.把（某物）连根拔起( uproot的过去式和过去分词 )；根除；赶走；把…赶出家园

参考例句：

• Many people were uprooted from their homes by the flood. 水灾令许多人背井离乡。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The hurricane blew with such force that trees were uprooted. 飓风强烈地刮着，树都被连根拔起了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 dismal   

adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的

参考例句：

• That is a rather dismal melody.那是一支相当忧郁的歌曲。
• My prospects of returning to a suitable job are dismal.我重新找到一个合适的工作岗位的希望很渺茫。

8 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

9 displacement   

n.移置，取代，位移，排水量

参考例句：

• They said that time is the feeling of spatial displacement.他们说时间是空间位移的感觉。
• The displacement of all my energy into caring for the baby.我所有精力都放在了照顾宝宝上。

10 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

11 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

12 durable   

adj.持久的，耐久的

参考例句：

• This raincoat is made of very durable material.这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
• They frequently require more major durable purchases.他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。

13 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。