VOA标准英语2013--Somalia Seeks Support at London Conference

Somalia Seeks Support at London Conference

At the port in Mogadishu, a constant stream of ships arrives carrying the cargo¹ to rebuild Somalia.

Ismail Abukar Hussein, a 32-year-old truck driver, said, "A year ago, we could make one delivery a month. Now we can make between three to five deliveries. Business is booming because of the peace."

The roads in Mogadishu have been cleared of roadblocks set up by the militant² group al-Shabab for nearly two years, allowing Hussein to freely deliver food and construction materials around the city.

Port Manager Abdullahi Alle Noor estimates the port sees 20 percent more ships today than this time last year. He said, “We have new activity. There is a container terminal and we have started exporting livestock³. It shows that Mogadishu is ready to be a fully⁴ functioning seaport⁵.”

The port is one example of how gains in security have enabled an economic revival⁶ in this war-torn country.

It is an image of progress the Somali delegation⁷ will show off in London, hoping to harness international aid and recognition of Somalia as a viable⁸ state ready for investment.

In the run-up to the conference, British Foreign Secretary William Hague traveled to Mogadishu to meet with President Mohamud and to reopen the British embassy.

The Somali president, regarded as the country's most legitimate⁹ leader since the state collapsed¹⁰ in 1991, is co-hosting the London conference, attended by representatives from more than 50 nations.

“This number of attendants and participants indicates the real commitment and the real willingness from international partners," he said. "This is absolutely an opportunity, but it is also a challenge to Somalia - how we respond to the good intention, that good gesture.”

The agenda includes the new government’s vision for reforming judicial¹¹, financial and security issues.

In Mogadishu, British Foreign Secretary Hague cautioned that Somalia still has a long way to go.

“Great progress has been made, but the problems Somalia is grappling with haven't been fully solved," he said. "The work is not complete. It is the work of many years and it requires a sustained effort from leaders in Somalia, of course, but also its partners in the region and across the world.”

British-trained African Union troops have pushed al-Shabab out of the capital city and large swathes of southern Somalia. But the group still makes its presence known.  Just two days before the conference, a suicide car bomb targeting a Qatari delegation killed 11 people and wounded several others. 

1 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

2 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

3 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

4 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

5 seaport   

n.海港，港口，港市

参考例句：

• Ostend is the most important seaport in Belgium.奥斯坦德是比利时最重要的海港。
• A seaport where ships can take on supplies of coal.轮船能够补充煤炭的海港。

6 revival   

n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振

参考例句：

• The period saw a great revival in the wine trade.这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
• He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival.他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。

7 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

8 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

9 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

10 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

11 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。