VOA标准英语2013--工人从加沙被破坏的隧道挣扎生存

 

Workers From Gaza's Destroyed Tunnels Struggle to Survive 工人从加沙被破坏的隧道挣扎生存

RAFAH, GAZA STRIP — The economy of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip is reeling since Egypt destroyed hundreds of smuggling¹ tunnels that it says were being used by Palestinian militants² to stage attacks in the Sinai Peninsula. The destruction of the tunnels has wiped out thousands of jobs in Gaza.

Abu Wasseem looks older than his 25 years. He has been working in Gaza’s smuggling tunnels since he was 19.

The Egyptian government last month destroyed most of the tunnels, putting Wasseem and thousands of others out of work.

"Life is difficult, and becoming more and more difficult because each tunnel supported many houses [families], not just one. Any tunnel worker will tell you the situation is very bad," he said.

The tunnels were a lifeline to Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade for six years. Their closure has caused shortages of many goods. And prices have jumped because everything now must come through Israel, which is more expensive than Egypt.

Work in the tunnels is hard, and it is dangerous. Wasseem has lost several friends because of cave-ins.

"Even now there are deaths in the tunnels and cases of paralysis³ and other injuries. My own body is covered with scars. The whole tunnel business is soaked with blood," he said.

Wasseem said one solution would be for Egypt to allow trade through Rafah Crossing. This does not appear likely, however, under the new government in Cairo. He said the tunnel business is almost finished. But he is building a new tunnel because it is all he knows. 

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 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 paralysis   

n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症)

参考例句：

• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。
• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。