VOA标准英语2009-More Civilians Flee War-Torn Yemen

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
13 November 2009

 
Saudi soldiers patrol Jizan province near Yemeni border with Yemen after clearing mountain straddling Yemen border of Shiite rebels, 08 Nov 2009
United Nations and International aid agencies say the plight¹ of civilians² in Yemen is worsening amid the increasing conflict along the Yemeni-Saudi border. The agencies say camps for internally displaced people are becoming overcrowded as more and more people who have fled their homes arrive.

The U.N. refugee agency says more and more Yemeni civilians are fleeing embattled Saada province in northern Yemen as the fighting between government troops and Al Houti forces enters the fourth month.

Over the past few days, UNHCR spokesman, Andrej Mahecic, says some 150 new families, or up to 900 people, have been arriving every day at Al Mazrak camp in Hajjah province.

"This is a significant increase over the 20 to 30 families per day in the previous weeks. The camp has now exceeded its capacity with nearly 10,000 internally displaced people living there," said Mahecic. "The latest sudden influx³ is adding more pressure on an already dire⁴ situation, and overcrowding in the camp is becoming a major concern. Three or four families now share a tent normally meant for one," he said.

 
A girl stands outside a tent in Mazraq refugee camp, which shelters about 8,000 displaced people in northern Yemen (File)
Mahecic notes Al Mazrak camp already has been expanded twice. He says most of the inhabitants are women and children. And, in response to their particular needs, he says the UNHCR has opened a center designed to make them feel safe in seeking help for their special health and protection concerns.

The International Committee of the Red Cross and Yemen Red Crescent are caring for thousands of people in the northwestern part of Saada governorate, in areas bordering Saudi Arabia.

They say the number of people taking refuge in Mandaba village is rising, with between 140 and 280 people being registered every day.

Red Cross spokeswoman, Dorothea Krimitsas, says people are traveling long distances to reach the relatively⁵ safe area of Mandaba. She says they arrive exhausted⁶ and in need of food, water, and shelter.

She says the agencies are providing essential relief to thousands of people in the area. But, this is becoming more difficult to do.

"It is also more and more difficult to reach medical and health facilities for internally displaced people and residents in northern Yemen. We have been able sometimes to transfer patients to facilities in other areas," Krimitsas said. "But, at times, we have not been able to do so because of the fighting. And, we once again strongly urge the conflict parties to admit the deliveries of humanitarian⁷ aid and to allow medical personnel and vehicles to bring life saving assistance," she said. 

The U.N. Children's Fund expresses deep concern about the escalation⁸ of the conflict in northern Yemen. It says the fighting, which now has spilled into Saudi Arabia, has caused 240 villages to be evacuated⁹ and more than 50 schools to be closed.

UNICEF says malnutrition¹⁰ among children in internally displaced camps is reaching alarming levels. And, it says some deaths have been recorded.

 

1 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

2 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

3 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。

4 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。

5 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

6 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

7 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。

8 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

9 evacuated   

撤退者的

参考例句：

• Police evacuated nearby buildings. 警方已将附近大楼的居民疏散。
• The fireman evacuated the guests from the burning hotel. 消防队员把客人们从燃烧着的旅馆中撤出来。

10 malnutrition   

n.营养不良

参考例句：

• In Africa, there are a lot of children suffering from severe malnutrition.在非洲有大批严重营养不良的孩子。
• It is a classic case of malnutrition. 这是营养不良的典型病例。