2006年VOA标准英语-UNHCR: Iraq Faces Refugee Crisis

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
03 November 2006

The U.N. refugee agency says Iraq is facing a displacement¹ crisis, on a larger scale than was anticipated when the war began in 2003. The UNHCR says continuing violence is leading more Iraqis to flee their homes.

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An Iraqi woman mourns her son in Baghdad's Sadr City

UNHCR Spokesman Ron Redmond says his agency had based much of its work on the assumption that, after the fall of Saddam Hussein, the domestic situation would stabilize², and hundreds-of-thousands of displaced Iraqis would be able to go home.

But he says more and more people fleeing because of the continuing violence.

"And, internal displacement is continuing at a rate of some 50,000 a month," he noted³.  "This displacement amid the ongoing⁴ violence in Iraq is presenting an enormous humanitarian⁵ challenge and extreme hardship for both the displaced and the Iraqi families trying to help them in host communities.  The enormous scale of the needs, the ongoing violence and the difficulties in reaching the displaced make it a problem that is practically beyond the capacity of humanitarian agencies, including UNHCR."

The UNHCR estimates 425,000 Iraqis have fled their homes for other areas inside Iraq this year alone.  It says hundreds-of-thousands of Iraqis have fled to neighboring Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon and Iran.  It says about 2,000 refugees are arriving in Syria every day and an estimated 1,000 a day in Jordan.

Spokesman Redmond says the population movements show no sign of abating⁶.  He says the needs are dramatic and are largely unmet.

"Some 50,000 non-Iraqi refugees, mostly Palestinians, Syrians and Iranians, under UNHCR's care inside Iraq are also in an increasingly dire⁷ situation," he added.  "We fear hundreds-of-thousands more Iraqis, who have waited to see an improvement of the situation are now teetering on the brink⁸ of displacement.  Many urban professionals have already fled.  Doctors, teachers, computer technicians and other skilled people crucial to the country's stability and well-being⁹ are leaving." 

Redmond calls this a largely silent or invisible exodus¹⁰.   He says people have not been fleeing en masse.   Instead, there has been a steady stream of refugees leaving.  He says most of the Iraqis are staying with host families or are getting help from local or religious organizations. The danger of this arrangement, he says, is that the refugees are likely to wear out the welcome mat as their numbers grow.

He notes the international community has provided billions of dollars for recovery and development programs for Iraq.  He says there needs to be a renewed focus on the humanitarian crisis in the region.

1 displacement   

n.移置，取代，位移，排水量

参考例句：

• They said that time is the feeling of spatial displacement.他们说时间是空间位移的感觉。
• The displacement of all my energy into caring for the baby.我所有精力都放在了照顾宝宝上。

2 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 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。

6 abating   

减少( abate的现在分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼）

参考例句：

• The storm showed no signs of abating. 暴风雨没有减弱的迹象。
• The recent public anxiety about this issue may now be abating. 近来公众对这个问题的焦虑心情现在也许正在缓和下来。

7 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

8 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

9 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

10 exodus   

v.大批离去，成群外出

参考例句：

• The medical system is facing collapse because of an exodus of doctors.由于医生大批离去，医疗系统面临崩溃。
• Man's great challenge at this moment is to prevent his exodus from this planet.人在当前所遇到的最大挑战，就是要防止人从这个星球上消失。