VOA标准英语2009年-Six Foreign Captives Released in Somalia

Somali kidnappers¹ have released six foreign hostages. The four European aid workers and their two Kenyan pilots were released Tuesday after eight months of captivity².
　
A car carrying people alleged³ to be former hostages in Somalia leaves Nairobi's Wilson Airport, 12 Aug 2009

The hostages had been held since November 2008.

The four Europeans were in Somalia with aid group Action Against Hunger. Two of the hostages were French, one Bulgarian, and the other Belgian. The two Kenyan pilots had been hired to help the four workers flee the area.

The aid group would not discuss the specific details of the hostages' release, but it was reported no ransom⁴ was paid.

Action Against Hunger is one of a few aid groups that have continued working in the country. Somalia is one of the most dangerous places in the world for Westerners.

According to a spokesperson for the group's French headquarters, before the kidnapping the group had multiple bases in the country, running nutrition, food distribution, and water sanitation⁵ programs.

After the kidnapping of its workers, the group was forced to cut most of its programs. It now focuses mostly on its nutrition efforts.

Spokesperson Sylvain Trottier says because of security conditions, foreign workers only visit the group's operations for occasional short trips.

"As most of the NGOs working in Somalia, most of these programs are running in rebel controlled territory, so there are no expatriates currently in Somalia," said Trottier. "They just make some quick visits from time to time."

The four aid workers were in Somalia for a short visit. When they heard that rebel groups were entering the area, they hired the two Kenya pilots to fly them out. But all six were captured before they could leave the ground.

A new wave of kidnappings hit Somalia last month.

Two French citizens who were acting⁶ as security advisors⁷ to the embattled transitional Somali government were taken from their hotel in Mogadishu. A few days later, three foreign aid workers in a Kenyan-Somali border town were abducted⁸.

None of these recently-taken hostages has yet to be released.

1 kidnappers   

n.拐子，绑匪( kidnapper的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They were freed yesterday by their kidnappers unharmed. 他们昨天被绑架者释放了，没有受到伤害。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The kidnappers had threatened to behead all four unless their jailed comrades were released. 帮匪们曾经威胁说如果印度方面不释放他们的同伙，他们就要将这四名人质全部斩首。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

3 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

4 ransom   

n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救

参考例句：

• We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
• The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。

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 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

7 advisors   

n.顾问，劝告者( advisor的名词复数 )；（指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• We will consult together with advisors about her education. 我们将一起和专家商议她的教育事宜。 来自互联网

8 abducted   

劫持，诱拐( abduct的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（肢体等）外展

参考例句：

• Detectives have not ruled out the possibility that she was abducted. 侦探尚未排除她被绑架的可能性。
• The kid was abducted at the gate of kindergarten. 那小孩在幼儿园大门口被绑架走了。