VOA标准英语2008年-UNICEF Says School Will Help Displaced Children

The United Nations Children's Fund says more attention must be paid to the educational, psychological and physical needs of children who are among the main victims of the war that erupted between Georgia and Russia just over a week ago. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.
　

A woman comforts a child as they join hundreds of internally displaced Georgians waiting outside the Civil Registry to register their arrival in Tbilisi, 14 Aug 2008

According to estimates by the Georgian and Russian governments, nearly 120,000 people have been displaced in Georgia and the breakaway region of South Ossetia by the recent conflict with Russia. The UN Children's Fund says a large proportion of those who fled their homes are women and children.

No exact figures are available on civilians¹ killed and wounded in the conflict. But aid agencies agree many women and children are certain to figure among the casualties.

UNICEF special advisor² on Central European countries, Gordon Alexander, says lack of access and safety on the ground is hampering³ the ability of aid agencies to help those in need.

He says homeless people are being sheltered in centers that are ill equipped to deal with their needs.

"These are kindergartens, places for IDPs [internally displaced people]," said Alexander. "The actual physical infrastructure⁴ of these places is where our assessment⁵ teams are saying is not in good shape. Sanitation⁶ issues, water supply, electricity - it is a big issue. So, making sure that all of these 170 centers are equipped well, I think will be one of the concerns that we are doing there."

Alexander says UNICEF is involved in immediate⁷ relief action, but the agency also is planning for the next stage. He says UNICEF is thinking about the coming winter and what will need to be done should the affects of the conflict continue for the long term.
　

Many children are traumatised by being forced to flee their homes and need help reintegrating back into normal life

He says many children are traumatized by the war and taking care of their psychological, as well as physical, needs is of utmost importance. He says education plays an important role in the healing process.

"We are also moving towards a new school year in the area and UNICEF would like to set a goal to try to get every displaced child back into school by the new school year," said Alexander. "It is creating that sense of normalcy that we really need to have. It is an important haven⁸, not only for the children, but also for parents. I think getting that going, but also getting the social support and interaction is also a major concern."

School in Georgia and Russia begins in early September. Alexander says it will be problematic to find enough classroom space since many kindergartens are being used to house displaced people.

He says UNICEF soon will be airlifting relief supplies to Georgia. It will include bottled water, hygiene⁹ kits¹⁰, hundreds of schools in a box and recreational kits for children.

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 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

3 hampering   

妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• So fraud on cows and development aid is seriously hampering growth. 因此在牛问题上和发展补助上的诈骗严重阻碍了发展。
• Short-termism, carbon-trading, disputing the science-are hampering the implementation of direct economically-led objectives. 短效主义，出售二氧化碳，进行科学辩论，这些都不利于实现以经济为主导的直接目标。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 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？

6 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

7 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

8 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

9 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。

10 kits   

衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件

参考例句：

• Keep your kits closed and locked when not in use. 不用的话把你的装备都锁好放好。
• Gifts Articles, Toy and Games, Wooden Toys, Puzzles, Craft Kits. 采购产品礼品，玩具和游戏，木制的玩具，智力玩具，手艺装备。