VOA标准英语10月-Thousands Flee Rebels In Congo

The U.N. refugee agency reports more than 50,000 people have been forced to flee their homes by fighting in the Ituru region in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.

U.N. refugee spokesman Ron Redmond says aid workers only have access to the displaced that have fled to Dungu, a town just south of the DRC border with Sudan, and surrounding villages.

He says fighting between the Congolese army and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army has caused heavy loss of life. "The rebels have caused widespread destruction of houses and public buildings," he said. "Local authorities in the area say that the bodies of some 100 civilians¹ were reportedly dumped in a river, while 80 children are reported missing. Parents fear they have been forcefully recruited by the LRA."

This is a tactic² commonly used by the rebel movement that has been fighting with the Ugandan government for more than two decades.

During that time it has kidnapped thousands of children, forced them to become soldiers and used the girls as sex slaves. The rebels also have forced more than two million people from their homes.

Peace negotiations³ between the Lord's Resistance Army and Kampala have broken down. The rebels shifted their activities to the Congo after they were ousted⁴ from their base in southern Sudan.
　

Renegade General Laurent Nkunda (File)

Redmond says the newly displaced who have gone to Dungu and the surrounding area have found shelter with relatives and friends. Others are living in churches and public schools. "A UNHCR team on mission to Dungu reports that the internally displaced are in dire⁵ need of basic humanitarian⁶ assistance. And, this displacement⁷ has also put a huge strain on host families. We are gearing up to send additional emergency staff to beef up our presence in Ituri region and to help meet the needs for shelter and water," he said. "Our teams also will be also bringing in blankets, high energy biscuits and hygiene⁸ items."

Redmond says access to the displaced and distribution of aid is hampered⁹ by insecurity and lack of roads.

Meanwhile, the UNHCR reports fighting in Congo's North Kivu Province between government forces and rebels led by Laurent Nkunda has displaced 100,000 people since the end of August.

1 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

2 tactic   

n.战略，策略；adj.战术的，有策略的

参考例句：

• Reducing prices is a common sales tactic.降价是常用的销售策略。
• She had often used the tactic of threatening to resign.她惯用以辞职相威胁的手法。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

5 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

6 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。

7 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。

8 hygiene   

n.健康法，卫生学 （a.hygienic）

参考例句：

• Their course of study includes elementary hygiene and medical theory.他们的课程包括基础卫生学和医疗知识。
• He's going to give us a lecture on public hygiene.他要给我们作关于公共卫生方面的报告。

9 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。