2007年VOA标准英语-Amnesty Calls for International Community to Do

By Tendai Maphosa
London
24 September 2007

An Amnesty International report blames the international community for failing to address adequately Iraq's worsening refugee crisis, leaving the main host countries of Syria and Jordan shouldering much of the responsibility. As a result, the two countries are tightening¹ border controls and cutting off escape routes for people fleeing from sectarian and other violence in Iraq. Tendai Maphosa filed this report for VOA from London.

 

The Amnesty report commends Syria and Jordan for accepting the refugees, but condemns² other states for doing too little to help them cope with the huge demands they face in meeting the needs of the Iraqi refugees they now host.

"Amnesty International has looked at the responses by the international community and in particular those countries that were involved in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, who we see as having a particular responsibility to the refugees, and we see that while some effort has been made in terms of assistance or some promises to resettle refugees these really are quite inadequate³ and very minor⁴ compared to the magnitude of the actual crisis," said Louise Moore, a refugee officer at Amnesty International.

Amnesty said continuing to ignore the flow of refugees from Iraq would spark "greater political instability across the wider region".

Syria hosts 1.4 million Iraqi refugees and Jordan an estimated 500,000. More than two million are displaced within Iraq. The number grows at an estimated 2,000 a day - making it the world's fastest growing displacement⁵ crisis.

Amnesty International says the refugees are placing severe strain on the resources of Syria and Jordan. Unless increased long-term support from other states is forthcoming this may become soon become unsustainable. Moore says both governments are not receiving any bilateral⁶ aid to support their efforts to look after the refugees.

 

As a result, the two countries are finding it increasingly difficult and are placing visa requirements on Iraqis escaping the violence in their country. Amnesty says this will prevent Iraqis from receiving the protection they need.

 

Amnesty International Director of the Middle East and North Africa Program Malcolm Smart urged both governments to keep their borders open. Smart called for other countries to provide increased aid to enable Syria and Jordan to meet the health, schooling⁷ and other needs of the refugees.

 

Despite the continuing violence and increased numbers of people fleeing, the number of Iraqi refugees resettled in third countries has fallen between 2003 and 2006.

1 tightening   

上紧，固定，紧密

参考例句：

• Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前，检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。
• It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。

2 condemns   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的第三人称单数 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• Her widowhood condemns her to a lonely old age. 守寡使她不得不过着孤独的晚年生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The public opinion condemns prostitution. 公众舆论遣责卖淫。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 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。

4 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

5 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。

6 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

7 schooling   

n.教育；正规学校教育

参考例句：

• A child's access to schooling varies greatly from area to area.孩子获得学校教育的机会因地区不同而大相径庭。
• Backward children need a special kind of schooling.天赋差的孩子需要特殊的教育。