2007年VOA标准英语-Liberian, Sierra Leonean Refugees Granted Citiz

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
08 August 2007

Nigeria

Nigeria has approved citizenship¹ status for about 7,000 Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees in the West African country. For VOA, Gilbert da Costa in Abuja reports that the refugees opted² to remain in Nigeria after the U.N. refugee agency closed their camp in Nigeria.

 

The Economic Community of West African States says the agreement signed with Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the U.N. High Commission for Refugees allows the refugees to settle in Nigeria.

 

They are to be issued Liberian and Sierra Leonean passports, but will enjoy citizenship rights in Nigeria and have access to employment, education, and health care on the same terms as Nigerians.

 

ECOWAS President Mohammed Ibn Chambas told VOA the Liberians and Sierra Leoneans will lose their refugee status and become ECOWAS community citizens.

 

"Because they had been under U.N. protection, the United Nations did not want to leave them like that. We are drawing attention of the country where they are staying to the fact that you are an ECOWAS community citizen," he said. "For this reason, you will still get legal protection, than say a Congolese, or a Chadian, or a Sudanese, than a South African who lives in Nigeria."

 

The United Nations closed the main refugee camp in Nigeria in June, withdrawing U.N. protection for refugees who chose to remain in Nigeria. The 5,600 Liberians and 1,600 Sierra Leoneans decided³ against going home under a U.N.-sponsored voluntary repatriation⁴ plan.

 

An estimated 200,000 people were killed in Liberia's 14-year old civil war, while another 50,000 died in neighboring Sierra Leone. Millions of Liberians and Sierra Leoneans were driven from their homes by the crises.

1 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

2 opted   

v.选择，挑选( opt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was co-opted onto the board. 她获增选为董事会成员。
• After graduating she opted for a career in music. 毕业后她选择了从事音乐工作。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 repatriation   

n.遣送回国，归国

参考例句：

• The Volrep programme is the preferred means of repatriation. 政府认为自愿遣返计划的遣返方法较为可取。 来自互联网
• Arrange the cargo claiming and maritime affairs,crews repatriation,medical treatment,traveling so on. （六）洽办货物理赔，船舶海事处理，办理船员遣返，就医，旅游等。 来自互联网