2007年VOA标准英语-WFP Helps Nomads in Djibouti Recover From Droug

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
23 June 2007

The World Food Program says it is gradually shifting from emergency assistance to Food for Work projects to help thousands of nomadic¹ herders in Djibouti recover from years of recurrent drought.   WFP is running these programs jointly² with other U.N. agencies and the country's Ministry³ of Agriculture.  Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.

Nomads⁴ in northwestern Djibouti have been hit hard by five consecutive⁵ years of drought.   The lack of rainfall has devastated⁶ pasturelands on which rural herdsmen traditionally rely.

The World Food Program says 20 percent of the population was short of food when stocks from the last harvest in September ran out.  Furthermore, they say, many pastoralists lost all their animals.

WFP spokesman, Simon Pluess, says his agency wants to wean the herders away from emergency assistance by introducing Work for Food programs aimed at long-term recovery.

"What we are trying to do together with the Ministry of Agriculture and UNICEF is, for example to dig wells so that despite drought, these herders will be able to irrigate⁷ their fields," he noted⁸.  "And, together with the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, we will try and promote vegetable gardens." 

In this way, Pluess says, the United Nations hopes to lessen⁹ the suffering of these vulnerable people and improve their nutritional¹⁰ status. He says some 5,600 people will participate in the Food for Work programs. They will receive enough rations¹¹ to feed themselves and their families. This means a total of 28,000 people will benefit from the food assistance.

Pluess says Djibouti is less fortunate than its neighbors. He says agriculture is very limited because of inadequate¹² rainfall and high temperatures. Agriculture only accounts for three percent of Djibouti's gross domestic product. 

Pluess says the country imports more than 80 percent of its cereal requirements. He says it is important to find solutions to mitigate¹³ the impact of drought and the food shortages that result.

"Without assistance, many people may be forced to move to Djibouti city where they lose their pastoralist lifestyle," he added.  "What will happen is they will only add to slums on the outskirts¹⁴ of the capital.  We would like these people to stay in the rural areas.  I think they can live a life of much more dignity than in the slums in the city.  And by improving water access and gardens, I think we can help them." 

The 2007-2008 forecast looks better for rainfall.  But, if it fails, Pluess tells VOA the World Food Program will have food stocks on hand to provide emergency relief for the people of Djibouti.

1 nomadic   

adj.流浪的；游牧的

参考例句：

• This tribe still live a nomadic life.这个民族仍然过着游牧生活。
• The plowing culture and the nomadic culture are two traditional principal cultures in China.农耕文化与游牧文化是我国传统的两大主体文化。

2 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 nomads   

n.游牧部落的一员( nomad的名词复数 )；流浪者；游牧生活；流浪生活

参考例句：

• For ten years she dwelled among the nomads of North America. 她在北美游牧民中生活了十年。
• Nomads have inhabited this region for thousands of years. 游牧民族在这地区居住已有数千年了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

6 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。

7 irrigate   

vt.灌溉，修水利，冲洗伤口，使潮湿

参考例句：

• The farmer dug several trenches to irrigate the rice fields.这个农民挖了好几条沟以灌溉稻田。
• They have built canals to irrigate the desert.他们建造成水渠以灌溉沙漠。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 lessen   

vt.减少，减轻；缩小

参考例句：

• Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
• They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。

10 nutritional   

adj.营养的，滋养的

参考例句：

• A diet lacking in nutritional value will not keep a person healthy.缺乏营养价值的饮食不能维持人的健康。
• The labels on food products give a lot of information about their nutritional content.食品上的标签提供很多关于营养成分的信息。

11 rations   

定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量

参考例句：

• They are provisioned with seven days' rations. 他们得到了7天的给养。
• The soldiers complained that they were getting short rations. 士兵们抱怨他们得到的配给不够数。

12 inadequate   

adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的

参考例句：

• The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
• She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。

13 mitigate   

vt.（使）减轻，（使）缓和

参考例句：

• The government is trying to mitigate the effects of inflation.政府正试图缓和通货膨胀的影响。
• Governments should endeavour to mitigate distress.政府应努力缓解贫困问题。

14 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。