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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Now to the Colombia-Venezuela border, where the U.S. is positioning food and medicine, which it hopes to get to needy1 Venezuelans. But the plan is highly controversial. Venezuela's authoritarian2 president, Nicolas Maduro, claims the aid operation is a prelude3 to a U.S. invasion, so he's closed the border. And, as John Otis reports, even some international relief agencies are wary4 of the U.S. effort.
JOHN OTIS, BYLINE5: Due to Maduro's blockade, tons of food and emergency medical kits6 are stuck in a warehouse7 just outside the city of Cucuta on the Colombian side of the border.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Chanting in Spanish).
OTIS: That has sparked protests like this one in a Cucuta park. These Venezuelans, who have crossed over to take part, are demanding that the U.S. aid be allowed into their country.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Chanting in Spanish).
OTIS: But the massing of U.S. supplies on the border is also a provocation8. The U.S. is trying to convince Venezuelan military officers to defy Maduro's orders and allow the aid into the country. Such a rebellion could lead to Maduro's ouster. And that's exactly what Venezuela needs, says Kevin Whitaker, the U.S. ambassador to Colombia. He spoke9 with NPR by phone from Washington.
KEVIN WHITAKER: He needs to leave so that his people's needs can be attended to, so the Venezuelan economy can be put back on its feet and so that Venezuela can once again be a normal country. He needs to leave.
OTIS: But humanitarian10 operations are supposed to be neutral. That's why the International Red Cross and other relief agencies have refused to collaborate11 with the U.S. effort on the Venezuelan border. Here's Stephane Dujarric, the United Nations spokesman, at a recent press briefing.
(SOUNDBITE OF PRESS BRIEFING)
STEPHANE DUJARRIC: What is important is that humanitarian aid be depoliticized.
OTIS: The risks of linking aid to regime change are already coming into focus, with some aid workers being denounced by the Maduro government as opposition12 activists13. Daniel Almeida works for CARE International, which partners with aid groups in Venezuela.
DANIEL ALMEIDA: Local AGOs received sort of retaliations or warnings because of their engagement with international aid. The whole environment is becoming more aggressive.
OTIS: Another danger is that Maduro, who currently allows in some humanitarian assistance, could close the door on aid altogether. Meanwhile, aid groups are bracing14 for U.S. sanctions that effectively block the sales of Venezuelan oil to the U.S. These proceeds make up the bulk of Venezuela's cash income, which is used to import food and medical supplies. That means rice, milk and antibiotics15 could become even more scarce. Even so, many Venezuelans strongly back the U.S. approach. They include Jose Manuel Olivares, a doctor and opposition congressman16.
JOSE MANUEL OLIVARES: (Speaking Spanish).
OTIS: Olivares says he's convinced there won't be time for average Venezuelans to feel the pinch of the sanctions because Maduro will soon be forced out. Ambassador Whitaker insists that the U.S. aid effort is moral and ethical17. By contrast, he says Maduro is funneling18 state food handouts19 to hungry Venezuelans in exchange for their support.
WHITAKER: If anyone's politicizing this, it's Maduro because there's need of great aid in that country.
OTIS: The Venezuelan opposition is now enlisting20 thousands of volunteers to help break the aid blockade starting on February 23. Such a maneuver21 could provoke clashes with the security forces. Still, Jorge Valenzuela (ph), a retired22 lawyer at the protest in Cucuta, has signed up to help
JORGE VALENZUELA: (Speaking in Spanish).
OTIS: The aid is legitimate23, he says, and we need it.
For NPR News, I'm John Otis in Cucuta, Colombia.
1 needy | |
adj.贫穷的,贫困的,生活艰苦的 | |
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2 authoritarian | |
n./adj.专制(的),专制主义者,独裁主义者 | |
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3 prelude | |
n.序言,前兆,序曲 | |
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4 wary | |
adj.谨慎的,机警的,小心的 | |
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5 byline | |
n.署名;v.署名 | |
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6 kits | |
衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 ); 成套用品; 配套元件 | |
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7 warehouse | |
n.仓库;vt.存入仓库 | |
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8 provocation | |
n.激怒,刺激,挑拨,挑衅的事物,激怒的原因 | |
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9 spoke | |
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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10 humanitarian | |
n.人道主义者,博爱者,基督凡人论者 | |
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11 collaborate | |
vi.协作,合作;协调 | |
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12 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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13 activists | |
n.(政治活动的)积极分子,活动家( activist的名词复数 ) | |
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14 bracing | |
adj.令人振奋的 | |
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15 antibiotics | |
n.(用作复数)抗生素;(用作单数)抗生物质的研究;抗生素,抗菌素( antibiotic的名词复数 ) | |
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16 Congressman | |
n.(美)国会议员 | |
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17 ethical | |
adj.伦理的,道德的,合乎道德的 | |
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18 funneling | |
[医]成漏斗形:描述膀胱底及膀胱尿道交接区 | |
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19 handouts | |
救济品( handout的名词复数 ); 施舍物; 印刷品; 讲义 | |
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20 enlisting | |
v.(使)入伍, (使)参军( enlist的现在分词 );获得(帮助或支持) | |
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21 maneuver | |
n.策略[pl.]演习;v.(巧妙)控制;用策略 | |
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22 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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23 legitimate | |
adj.合法的,合理的,合乎逻辑的;v.使合法 | |
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