VOA标准英语2008年-UNHCR Warns Lack of Money May Force Cutbacks fo

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
10 May 2008

The UN refugee agency warns it may have to reduce or even suspend a number of aid programs for hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees because it has received only about half of the $261 million it needs. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.

The UN refugee agency says fading international interest in Iraq is having a terrible impact on the nearly five million people who have fled their homes. About half are refugees in neighboring countries. More than two million of them are in Syria and Jordan, straining resources in those countries.

UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond says, last month in Syria, nearly 130,000 refugees received food assistance and close to 40,000 received subsidized health care. He says many of them are running out of money and are finding it increasingly difficult to survive amid a dramatic increase in food prices across the region.

He says health programs for one-quarter of a million people are at risk because of cash shortages at the UN agency.

"We have got massive health programs for Iraqis. Those could be drastically reduced," he said. "Some specialized¹ medical care for people with serious or rare diseases, ailments² could come to a complete halt. By August, we will not be able to cover all the basic health needs of Iraqis. Many seriously, chronically³ ill Iraqis will not be able to receive their monthly medications."

Redmond says food aid for tens of thousands of refugees in Syria and Jordan could be cut, forcing many Iraqis into further destitution⁴.

"Instead of being in school, a lot of these children, their families are so impoverished⁵ now that the children are forced to work," he said. "You can see them working in the streets, begging in the streets and performing child labor⁶. And, that is another big cause of concern."

Redmond says households headed by women have a particularly difficult time surviving. He says women who are the sole support of their families are often forced to resort to extreme measures such as prostitution.

"The refugee population is especially susceptible⁷ to exploitation, particularly when they are not getting the sort of assistance that they require. That is something that we are particularly concerned about," said Redmond.

He says the funding crisis comes as fuel, food and rent costs have risen dramatically.

1 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

2 ailments   

疾病（尤指慢性病），不适( ailment的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His ailments include a mild heart attack and arthritis. 他患有轻度心脏病和关节炎。
• He hospitalizes patients for minor ailments. 他把只有小病的患者也送进医院。

3 chronically   

ad.长期地

参考例句：

• Similarly, any pigment nevus that is chronically irritated should be excised. 同样，凡是经常受慢性刺激的各种色素痣切勿予以切除。
• People chronically exposed to chlorine develop some degree of tolerance. 人长期接触氯气可以产生某种程度的耐受性。

4 destitution   

n.穷困，缺乏，贫穷

参考例句：

• The people lived in destitution. 民生凋敝。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• His drinking led him to a life of destitution. 酗酒导致他生活贫穷。 来自辞典例句

5 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

7 susceptible   

adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的

参考例句：

• Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
• We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。