VOA标准英语2015--Ukrainian Town Cut Off by Fighting Struggles to Survive

Ukrainian Town Cut Off by Fighting Struggles to Survive

KRASNOHORIVKA, EASTERN UKRAINE—

In eastern Ukraine, villages cut off by military front lines are on the brink¹ of a humanitarian² crisis. Ukraine's Kyiv government can't seem to get supplies in supplies and pro-Russia separatist forces have not been able to restore war-damaged services in towns behind their lines. Next week, European leaders are to meet in Germany to discuss Ukraine's cease-fire and concerns for civilians³. The needs grow rapidly in many communities.

In the frontline town of Krasnohorivka, only one road remains⁴: a gauntlet open to sniper fire. The only other road was blown up by separatist rebels this week.

Despite the risk, Pastor⁵ Vladimir Ivanov, a volunteer from Good News Church, brings much needed food aid into the town. People living here say they have not received aid from the Ukrainian government in weeks. Cut off by the front lines, people here have been left to fend⁶ for themselves. The Red Cross and local churches provide the only humanitarian aid.

"It's not enough. What is being delivered by the Red Cross and the churches here, is not enough for the 8,000 to 9,000 people who are living here now, because people are coming back. But there are no jobs, no income here for most people and the food stocks, what people had is now finished," said Ivanov.

People stand outside a government aid point. But there is no Red Cross food, nor vouchers⁷ from Ukrainian oligarch Renat Akhmetov, to be given out.

"People stand here waiting for humanitarian aid of any kind, if for example Red Cross or Renat Akhmetov are delivering some food aid, but now we have been asked by city council to make a waiting list - a list just to wait to be added to the food aid waiting list," said Svetlana.

Heavy shelling in January shattered the water pipes, damaging homes. There is no gas, water or electricity. But with no where else to go, people cannot leave. A mother of three Ekateryna says her family has not eaten in a week. Her husband is gone.

"I am alone, I have three daughters. We depend on humanitarian aid. We only get it one time a month. It’s only enough food for three or four days. The rest we are surviving with is what God is giving to us." she said. "We have no power...so we are sitting in the cold house after windows were smashed by shrapnel. Thanks to God nobody was wounded."

Noah's Ark is one of two churches in the town providing food and warm clothes for up to 140 people a day. With no jobs and money running out, this is the only option for many families.

"The zones here, they are special because people living here they are cut off from normal life, nobody cares about them. There is no opportunity to bring food supplies here from both sides, because it appears it is not Ukrainian and not separatist territory," said Pastor Vladimir Pryadka.

As the cease-fire remains fragile, movement in this border town may become more restricted, and the situation could become worse, unless something changes fast.

1 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

2 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。

3 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。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 pastor   

n.牧师，牧人

参考例句：

• He was the son of a poor pastor.他是一个穷牧师的儿子。
• We have no pastor at present:the church is run by five deacons.我们目前没有牧师：教会的事是由五位执事管理的。

6 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

7 vouchers   

n.凭证( voucher的名词复数 )；证人；证件；收据

参考例句：

• These vouchers are redeemable against any future purchase. 这些优惠券将来购物均可使用。
• This time we were given free vouchers to spend the night in a nearby hotel. 这一次我们得到了在附近一家旅馆入住的免费券。 来自英语晨读30分（高二）