VOA标准英语2010年-UN Urges Increased Protection for Hait

Responding to criticism of the United Nations-directed humanitarian¹ response in Haiti, a U.N. spokesperson has urged increased protection for Haitian refugees facing sexual violence.

A new report by Refugees International, a Washington-based refugee advocacy group, is sharply critical of conditions in the refugee camps in Haiti. Nearly 10 months after the earthquake devastated² the country, the report says the people of Haiti are still living in a state of emergency, with a humanitarian response that appears paralyzed.

Refugees International says sexual, domestic and gang violence in and around the refugee camps is rising. The report adds there is an urgent need for experienced U.N. personnel and resources for humanitarian protection, and says that action is urgently needed to protect the basic human rights of people displaced by the earthquake.

Questioned about the report, U.N. spokesperson Martin Nesirky said it highlights some very important matters including the protection, especially, of women.

"That has been a major concern for everybody right from the start," said Nesirky. "And we obviously share those concerns and we also want to see increased protection capacity when it comes to tackling sexual violence, which, as you know, is primarily against women and girls. Measures have already been taken, as you know, to improve protection - and that includes patrolling camps and having a 24-hour presence of U.N. troops and police officers in some camps where the problems are particularly serious."

The U.N. spokesperson said 559 U.N. police officers are permanently³ present in six of the Haitian refugee camps and that 614 U.N. military personnel are stationed in six of the largest camps.

"It is worth noting that sexual violence has been a serious problem in Haiti long before the earthquake, and it also continues to be a serious problem outside of the camps, as well. As I say, this is no comfort for the people in those camps and we need to work very hard on that," said Nesirky.

Refugees International also acknowledges gender-based violence has always been a problem in Haiti, but notes there has been a significant increase in sexual violence reports since the January earthquake and there have been reports of increasing domestic violence in the stressful living conditions in the refugee camps.
 

1 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。

2 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

3 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。