VOA标准英语2008年-Refugees Could Be Victims of New Smuggling Ring

The U.N. refugee agency says it is concerned that new, smuggling¹ rings taking advantage of refugees may be developing in eastern Sudan. It says 21 refugees from Eritrea and Somalia are feared to have drowned recently when their overloaded² boat capsized in the Atbara River, near the Shagarab refugee camp in eastern Sudan. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.

Local authorities are investigating the presumed death by drowning of the refugees. The bodies have not yet been recovered.

The U.N. refugee agency says this tragic³ incident occurred a couple of days ago. Eyewitnesses⁴ report the 21 refugees were part of a larger group that tried to cross the Atbara River in four boats. They say the boat that capsized was meant to carry 15 passengers, but was packed with 26. Four Eritrean men and one Somali woman survived.

U.N. refugee spokesman Ron Redmond says aid workers who arrived on the spot shortly after the incident found 70 other people waiting to cross the river. He tells VOA smuggling routes are opening up across this remote part of eastern Sudan, not far from the 12 refugee camps managed by the UNHCR.

"So, it is obviously becoming a more popular solution among these refugees," said Redmond. "We are extremely concerned because the smugglers who are carrying these people do not have their safety in mind. And, it is an extremely dangerous undertaking⁵ crossing this river because they are overloading⁶ the boats. These people are paying about $100 each to take the trip across the river and then on towards Khartoum by road."

Eleven Eritrean and Somali families, including eight women and at least three children are among the missing.

The UNHCR estimates around 130,000 refugees are in eastern Sudan. About 100,000 live in 12 camps where they receive international assistance. Most are from Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.

Redmond says thousands of these refugees have been living in eastern Sudan for more than four decades. He says living conditions in the camps are very bad and many refugees feel hopeless about their future.

"The refugees are confined basically to the camps," said Redmond. "They are not supposed to travel anywhere else in the country without authorization⁷. So, they are in a very difficult situation. They are desperate. They want a future and, as we have seen in other parts of the world, particularly across the Gulf⁸ of Aden, they will take their lives into their own hands if they think it is worth the risk."

Redmond says the refugees who get involved with smugglers and embark⁹ on these perilous¹⁰ journeys hope to reach the capital Khartoum and, ultimately, make their way to Europe.

1 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。

2 overloaded   

a.超载的，超负荷的

参考例句：

• He's overloaded with responsibilities. 他担负的责任过多。
• She has overloaded her schedule with work, study, and family responsibilities. 她的日程表上排满了工作、学习、家务等，使自己负担过重。

3 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

4 eyewitnesses   

目击者( eyewitness的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The examination of all the eyewitnesses took a week. 对所有证人的质询用了一周的时间。
• Several eyewitnesses testified that they saw the officers hit Miller in the face. 几位目击证人证明他们看见那几个警官打了米勒的脸。

5 undertaking   

n.保证，许诺，事业

参考例句：

• He gave her an undertaking that he would pay the money back with in a year.他向她做了一年内还钱的保证。
• He is too timid to venture upon an undertaking.他太胆小，不敢从事任何事业。

6 overloading   

过载，超载，过负载

参考例句：

• Enables multiple users to search the site without overloading the server. 使多个用户搜索网站，而无需超载的服务器上。
• The driver got stripped down again for overloading his trunk. 那位卡车司机因为超载又受到责备。

7 authorization   

n.授权，委任状

参考例句：

• Anglers are required to obtain prior authorization from the park keeper.垂钓者必须事先得到公园管理者的许可。
• You cannot take a day off without authorization.未经批准你不得休假。

8 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

9 embark   

vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机

参考例句：

• He is about to embark on a new business venture.他就要开始新的商业冒险活动。
• Many people embark for Europe at New York harbor.许多人在纽约港乘船去欧洲。

10 perilous   

adj.危险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• The journey through the jungle was perilous.穿过丛林的旅行充满了危险。
• We have been carried in safety through a perilous crisis.历经一连串危机，我们如今已安然无恙。