VOA标准英语2009年-UN Warns Gaps in Sudanese Aid Operations Cannot

The United Nation's chief humanitarian¹ official says efforts to fill the gaps left by the 13 international aid groups kicked out of Sudan are insufficient² and that the upcoming rainy season could further complicate³ an already serious humanitarian situation.
　
John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator⁴

Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes said U.N. and Sudanese government efforts to meet food, water, healthcare, shelter and sanitation⁵ needs of displaced persons in Darfur are significant, but they are not enough and are not sustainable.

"While a significant effort is being made by the government, by the U.N., by the NGOs which are left to plug some of the immediate⁶ gaps in these areas, these are at the same time band-aid solutions, if I can put it that way, not long term solutions," Holmes said.

He said the World Food Program has stepped in to provide food for two months to people in need.

But he cautioned that it is not feasible for WFP to do that indefinitely.

Holmes said aid operations in the Darfur region of Sudan are the biggest in the world and cost about $1 billion a year. He said such an operation requires expertise⁷ and capacities that cannot be easily replaced.

Earlier this month, a United Nations and Sudanese government joint⁸ assessment⁹ team spent nine days in North, South and West Darfur. They were evaluating the humanitarian situation in the aftermath of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's decision to expel the 13 largest aid groups from the country, following the International Criminal Court's decision to issue a warrant for his arrest. Mr. Bashir is charged with crimes against humanity for atrocities¹⁰ committed in Darfur.

The joint report warns that without fuel and spare parts for equipment, major water shortages could develop in Darfur within a few weeks. The report also says some 650,000 people are without full access to a range of health services after nearly 1,000 clinics were affected¹¹ by the expulsions.

U.N. humanitarian and relief coordinator John Holmes says it is vital to have non-food items such as tarpaulins¹² and cooking equipment distributed before the rainy season, which starts in May. He warned the rains could bring a new set of complications - including disease outbreaks from lack of sanitation and clean water.

Nearly five million people in Darfur rely on some form of international assistance.

1 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。

2 insufficient   

adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的

参考例句：

• There was insufficient evidence to convict him.没有足够证据给他定罪。
• In their day scientific knowledge was insufficient to settle the matter.在他们的时代，科学知识还不能足以解决这些问题。

3 complicate   

vt.使复杂化，使混乱，使难懂

参考例句：

• There is no need to complicate matters.没有必要使问题复杂化。
• These events will greatly complicate the situation.这些事件将使局势变得极其复杂。

4 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

5 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

6 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

7 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

8 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

9 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

10 atrocities   

n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪

参考例句：

• They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

12 tarpaulins   

n.防水帆布，防水帆布罩( tarpaulin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Main wood to aluminum and plexiglass, PC, tarpaulins, toughened glass. 主材以铝型材与进口有机玻璃、PC、防水布、钢化玻璃。 来自互联网
• That means providing tents or other materials, including plastic sheeting, tarpaulins and wood. 这意味着需要帐篷和其他物资，包括塑料布、放水油布和木材。 来自互联网