VOA标准英语2009年-More Civilians Fleeing Conflict In Norther

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
10 November 2009

The U.N. refugee agency says it is extremely concerned about the recent escalation¹ of the conflict in northern Yemen between the government and rebel Houthis. The UNHCR says there has been a significant increase in recent days in the number of civilians² fleeing the embattled Saada governorate to safer areas of the country.

 
A group of forcibly displaced people in north Yemen (file photo)
 
The UNHCR says it is unable to reach people in the embattled areas who are deprived of protection and essential aid. The agency is appealing for secure and unhindered access for humanitarian³ workers to deliver assistance. 

U.N. refugee spokesman Andrej Mahecic says more people are fleeing Saada governorate and continue to arrive at al-Mazrak camp in Hajja governorate. 

"On average, 130 to 140 families arrived to Al Mazrak camp both on Saturday and Sunday and another 80 families yesterday, which is a total of about 2,000 people.  Elderly people, single mothers and children represent the majority of new arrivals. Most of them are coming from Khuba area where they had taken refuge after having fled the fighting in Saada. This means it is their second or third displacement," said Mahecic.

He says about 8,700 people are living in al-Mazrak camp which has been expanded to accommodate the new arrivals. He says 11,000 other people are being sheltered by host families.

Mahecic says the UNHCR airlifted a shipment of emergency relief items from its central stockpile in Dubai. The shipment, he says, included large tents and prefabricated warehouses⁴, which will improve the delivery of aid and services to the people in need.

"Meanwhile, our office in Riyadh was informed yesterday by the Saudi authorities that the situation at the Alp border is stable, allowing UNHCR to continue it cross-border activities. We are hopeful that we will receive the security clearances⁵ from the Saudi authorities for the next aid convoy⁶ in the coming days. UNHCR's assistance will complement⁷ the Yemeni government's food and aid also arriving in the area," Mahecic said.

Low-level skirmishes between the rebels and Saudi Arabian and Yemeni forces have been going on for five years. The conflict heated up last week when Houthi Shiite rebels reportedly crossed into Saudi Arabia and killed a Saudi officer.

The Saudi government responded by sending fighter jets to bomb Houthi territory in northern Yemen. Fears are growing the lingering battle could turn into a wider regional conflict, potentially drawing in Iran, the region's biggest Shiite power.

The UNHCR estimates about 175,000 people have been affected⁸ by the conflict since 2004, including those displaced by the latest fighting.

1 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

2 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。

3 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。

4 warehouses   

仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The whisky was taken to bonded warehouses at Port Dundee. 威士忌酒已送到邓迪港的保稅仓库。
• Row upon row of newly built warehouses line the waterfront. 江岸新建的仓库鳞次栉比。

5 clearances   

清除( clearance的名词复数 )； 许可； （录用或准许接触机密以前的）审查许可； 净空

参考例句：

• But I can't get to him without clearances. 但是没有证明我就没法见到他。
• The bridge and the top of the bus was only ten clearances. 桥与公共汽车车顶之间的间隙只有十厘米。

6 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。

7 complement   

n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足

参考例句：

• The two suggestions complement each other.这两条建议相互补充。
• They oppose each other also complement each other.它们相辅相成。

8 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。