2006年VOA标准英语-Kenya Wants International Help With Somali Refu

By Cathy Majtenyi
Nairobi
12 October 2006

Kenya's foreign affairs minister is expressing his frustration¹ over recent events in Somalia and their effect on his country, saying Somali refugees are carrying guns into Kenya and adding to insecurity.  Meanwhile, the U.N. refugee agency says it is considering asking the Kenyan government to give its permission to build a new camp that would house the large numbers of Somalis coming into Kenya.

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Somalis offload food aid at Dadaab refugee camp store in northern Kenya

The U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) reports that more than 9,000 Somalis have crossed into Kenya during the past week.

Kenyan Foreign Affairs Minister Raphael Tuju told reporters in Nairobi he is very worried about that situation.

"In the process of living in Somalia, and in flight, they need guns to protect themselves," he said.  "As soon as they get into Kenya, they no longer need guns to protect themselves, but guns become a currency.  And when guns become a currency, then it compounds the security situation that we have in Kenya."

Tuju says his country has had to make a lot of adjustments following the refugee influx², such as setting up special border posts to collect weapons.

He says that the Arab League, the United Nations, the European Union, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development and other groups all have programs to help Somalia, but the initiatives are uncoordinated and fail to help Kenya in it efforts to deal with the Somali crisis.

"The international community must consolidate³ its efforts in dealing⁴ with the Somali crisis and that is why we felt that it is a bit of a joke when sometimes we see some of these initiatives emanating⁵ from different parts of the world while at the end of the day, when the chips are down, we pay the price," he said.

Currently, there are 143,000 Somali refugees living in the three camps near Dadaab, an increase of 9,000 from this time last week.

In a newsletter put out by the United Nations in Nairobi, the U.N. refugee agency says a fourth camp is likely to be constructed in the Dadaab area.

U.N. refugee agency spokesman Emmanuel Nyabera tells VOA his agency is monitoring the situation, and may be approaching the Kenyan government soon to open a new camp.

"We are getting extremely concerned about the numbers of refugees who are coming into Kenya from Somalia at the moment," he explained.  "The problem is that, if these numbers continue to grow, then even the camp itself will not be able to accommodate these new arrivals.  And, that would mean that we have to consult with the government of Kenya to see if we can have an extra camp, but within Dadaab camp."

Foreign Minister Tuju says he is not sure whether or not his government has or will give permission for the camp to be built.

The refugee influx has been increasing since the Union of Islamic Courts rose to prominence⁶ earlier this year in Somalia and began capturing key areas of the country, posing serious challenge to Somalia's transitional government.

The courts recently captured the port city of Kismayo, about 150 kilometers east of the Kenyan border.  The Kenyan government has stepped up its border and sea patrols following the refugee influx.

Since civil war broke out in 1991, militias⁷ loyal to clan⁸ and sub-clan-based factions⁹ have controlled different parts of Somalia, with no central authority to provide law and order and even basic services to the population.

A transitional Somali parliament was formed in Kenya more than a year ago, following a peace process.

1 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

2 influx   

n.流入，注入

参考例句：

• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
• Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施，因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。

3 consolidate   

v.使加固，使加强；(把...)联为一体，合并

参考例句：

• The two banks will consolidate in July next year. 这两家银行明年7月将合并。
• The government hoped to consolidate ten states to form three new ones.政府希望把十个州合并成三个新的州。

4 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

5 emanating   

v.从…处传出，传出( emanate的现在分词 )；产生，表现，显示

参考例句：

• Even so, there is a slight odour of potpourri emanating from Longfellow. 纵然如此，也还是可以闻到来自朗费罗的一种轻微的杂烩的味道。 来自辞典例句
• Many surface waters, particularly those emanating from swampy areas, are often colored to the extent. 许多地表水，特别是由沼泽地区流出的地表水常常染上一定程度的颜色。 来自辞典例句

6 prominence   

n.突出；显著；杰出；重要

参考例句：

• He came to prominence during the World Cup in Italy.他在意大利的世界杯赛中声名鹊起。
• This young fashion designer is rising to prominence.这位年轻的时装设计师的声望越来越高。

7 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

8 clan   

n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派

参考例句：

• She ranks as my junior in the clan.她的辈分比我小。
• The Chinese Christians,therefore,practically excommunicate themselves from their own clan.所以，中国的基督徒简直是被逐出了自己的家族了。

9 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别