VOA常速英语2008年-UN Officials Express Shock at Destruction of We

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
22 February 2008

The UN refugee agency reports that UN aid workers who visited western Darfur recently have expressed shock at the level of destruction in one village. As Lisa Schlein reports from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva, the village came under Sudanese government attack earlier this month. 

Members of a joint¹ UN humanitarian² mission went to Sirba to assess the damage incurred³ during bombardments by the Sudanese government earlier this month.  Sirba is one of three towns in West Darfur that came under fire. 

The mission included the UN humanitarian coordinator⁴ for Sudan as well as representatives of the UN refugee agency, the World Food Program and the UN Children's Fund.

UN refugee spokesman, Ron Redmond, says the mission was shocked by what it saw.

"The preliminary reports that we got from this mission and from an earlier mission that went to that area said about 40 percent of that particular village was destroyed," he said.  "Burned to the ground basically in these attacks.  So, it is a fairly high level of destruction." 

The attacks also affected⁵ the nearby villages of Silea and Abou Sourouj.  Redmond says before the attacks, the three villages had a total population of about 30,000, some of whom have now fled to eastern Chad.

An estimated 10,000 refugees from West Darfur fled to Chad following the bombardments that began February 8.  Redmond says the residents, speaking to members of the U.N. mission, were desperate for help.

"Residents of the town pleaded for help in securing their villages.  And, they also told the mission that fleeing to neighboring Chad was dangerous, because of the ongoing⁶ conflict as well as banditry in the area," he added.  "They also expressed concern about their compatriots who had fled across the border to eastern Chad two weeks ago.  The assessment⁷ mission noted⁸ that many villagers who had been internally displaced as a result of the February 8 air raids had returned to Sirba.  Upon their return a few days after the violence, the UN provided the villagers with emergency relief assistance, including food and shelter material, while the Sudanese government provided tents." 

Meanwhile in eastern Chad, Redmond says a humanitarian convoy⁹ that was trying to reach the border from the Chadian town of Guereda Friday had to turn back.  He says military activity on the other side of the border in Darfur put the mission in danger.

1 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

2 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。

3 incurred   

[医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式

参考例句：

• She had incurred the wrath of her father by marrying without his consent 她未经父亲同意就结婚，使父亲震怒。
• We will reimburse any expenses incurred. 我们将付还所有相关费用。

4 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

7 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

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 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。