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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Detainees at Australia's controversial offshore1 immigration center on Christmas Island are now being housed in tents after a flood of new arrivals overwhelmed the facility's capacity. More than 50 boatloads of suspected asylum2 seekers have now been intercepted3 this year in Australia's northern waters.
Phil Mercer | Sydney 12 December 2009
Australia's Immigration department has confirmed that facilities at the Christmas Island detention4 center have been stretched beyond their limits.
There are more than 1,400 detainees in the camp that lies in the Indian Ocean 2,600 kilometers northwest of Perth, Australia.
The latest arrivals sailed in by boat Thursday after avoiding interception5 by Australian border protection authorities.
It is the 54th vessel6 carrying asylum seekers to be found in Australia's remote northern waters this year.
Some inmates7 on Christmas Island are now being housed in large tents, a move which has prompted the conservative opposition8 to renew its call on the government to send back the boats to relieve the crisis.
Opposition lawmaker, Scott Morrison, says conditions at the isolated9 center will only get worse.
"We are now going to have a tent city on Christmas Island," he said. "Christmas Island is now overcapacity and these desperate people will be spending the hot summer months on Christmas Island under tents."
Refugee groups are calling on the government to close the camp and bring the detainees to the Australian mainland for processing.
Additional temporary buildings are being shipped to the Christmas Island facility to alleviate10 the accommodation crisis and in anticipation11 of more arrivals.
Australia's deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has rejected accusations12 that the government has lost control of Australia's borders.
"Under the previous government from time to time there are boats that made it through," she said. "That will happen but we have stepped up our border security presence."
Australia blames unrest in Sri Lanka, Iraq and Afghanistan for a surge in unauthorized arrivals trying to reach its shores by boat.
The vast majority of asylum seekers who arrive by sea are eventually deemed to be in need of Australia's protection and are allowed to settle permanently13 in the country.
Canberra grants visas to about 13,000 refugees every year under official humanitarian14 policies.
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1
offshore
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adj.海面的,吹向海面的;adv.向海面 | |
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2
asylum
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n.避难所,庇护所,避难 | |
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3
intercepted
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拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 ); 截住; 截击; 拦阻 | |
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4
detention
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n.滞留,停留;拘留,扣留;(教育)留下 | |
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5
interception
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n.拦截;截击;截取;截住,截断;窃听 | |
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6
vessel
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n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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7
inmates
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n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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8
opposition
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n.反对,敌对 | |
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9
isolated
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adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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10
alleviate
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v.减轻,缓和,缓解(痛苦等) | |
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11
anticipation
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n.预期,预料,期望 | |
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12
accusations
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n.指责( accusation的名词复数 );指控;控告;(被告发、控告的)罪名 | |
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13
permanently
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adv.永恒地,永久地,固定不变地 | |
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14
humanitarian
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n.人道主义者,博爱者,基督凡人论者 | |
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