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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, 20 Oct 2008 |
Annan, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and Gra?a Machel, the wife of South African elder statesman Nelson Mandela said they will now meet in Johannesburg on Friday. The group was due to travel to Zimbabwe to assess the ongoing4 humanitarian5 crisis in that country and to determine how the flow of assistance to needy6 Zimbabweans can be improved.
The Zimbabwe government did not issue a statement banning the visit. Instead, as is often the case, the state-controlled Herald7 newspaper reported that the government wanted to know who the group represented and reported to. The newspaper said a government source said the group was a clique8 of personalities9 hostile to Zimbabwe.
The Herald said the government had informed the group it appreciaties their humanitarian concern but was unable to handle the visit at this time of the year.
In a statement released Thursday, the group said they had hoped to meet with Zimbabwe's political leaders to hear their views without becoming involved in the country's ongoing political negotiations10.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela, 04 Sep 2008 |
The three are members of The Elders, a group of 10 globally respected leaders who were convened11 in 2007 by Mandela and Graca Machel. Their aim is to bring what they say are experienced and independent voices in support of efforts to address global challenges.
In his statement, Annan said the group will now meet with individuals working on the ground in Zimbabwe. He said food shortages, a lack of seed and fertilizer for planting, and the breakdown12 in health services is prolonging the suffering of Zimbabweans. He added that urgent solutions are needed.
Meanwhile, doctors and nurses took to the streets of Harare this week to protest against the worsening conditions in Zimbabwe hospitals.
Health workers picket13 outside the Parirenyatwa hospital in Harare, 18 Nov 2008 |
Two of the main hospitals in Zimbabwe have been shut down because of lack of drugs, money, water and resources in general. This comes at a time when Zimbabweans are experiencing a serious cholera14 outbreak in their country. More than 70 individuals have died from the disease so far.
Meanwhile two Zimbabweans have died, and 18 are currently being treated in South African medical facilities in the border town of Musina for cholera following an outbreak in their country. Dozens more have completed treatment.
The South African health services say they are adding two rehydration centers to the one already in the area and that one of the additional centers will be placed on the South African side of the border at Beit Bridge. They are also negotiating with Zimbabwean officials to locate a fourth in no-man's land between the two border posts.
1 eminent | |
adj.显赫的,杰出的,有名的,优良的 | |
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2 postpone | |
v.延期,推迟 | |
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3 convene | |
v.集合,召集,召唤,聚集,集合 | |
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4 ongoing | |
adj.进行中的,前进的 | |
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5 humanitarian | |
n.人道主义者,博爱者,基督凡人论者 | |
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6 needy | |
adj.贫穷的,贫困的,生活艰苦的 | |
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7 herald | |
vt.预示...的来临,预告,宣布,欢迎 | |
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8 clique | |
n.朋党派系,小集团 | |
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9 personalities | |
n. 诽谤,(对某人容貌、性格等所进行的)人身攻击; 人身攻击;人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 ) | |
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10 negotiations | |
协商( negotiation的名词复数 ); 谈判; 完成(难事); 通过 | |
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11 convened | |
召开( convene的过去式 ); 召集; (为正式会议而)聚集; 集合 | |
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12 breakdown | |
n.垮,衰竭;损坏,故障,倒塌 | |
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13 picket | |
n.纠察队;警戒哨;v.设置纠察线;布置警卫 | |
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14 cholera | |
n.霍乱 | |
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