2006年VOA标准英语-UNHCR Preparing For Possible Exodus of Thousand

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
30 December 2006

The U.N. refugee agency says it is preparing for the possible exodus¹ of thousands of Somalis to neighboring countries, in the wake of the fighting between Ethiopian-backed government troops and Islamist fighters. The UNHCR tells VOA it is pre-positioning enough food for 50,000 refugees. Lisa Schlein reports from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.

 
Ron Redmond (file photo)
Spokesman Ron Redmond tells VOA the UNHCR has to have contingency² plans in place, in case there is a large influx³ of Somali refugees into neighboring countries.

He said, "That is a very real possibility in this conflict in Somalia, because, so far this year, we have already seen more than 34,000 Somalis fleeing to northern Kenya to our refugee camps in the Dadaab region near the border with Somalia."

"So, we have already seen fairly substantial number of Somalians fleeing earlier this year before this latest fighting. So, there is certainly a possibility that we could be seeing more and we need to be prepared," he said.

 
A Somali family takes a ride on a donkey cart near Buur to escape fighting, 24 Dec 2006
The International Committee of the Red Cross reports hundreds of people may have been killed in the recent fighting, which forced thousands of people from their homes. It says more than 800 wounded civilians⁴ and fighters have been admitted to hospital in recent days.

Redmond says the UNHCR is reinforcing its operations in northeastern Kenya. He says the agency is putting enough relief supplies along the border with Somalia for up to 50,000 people.

"These supplies are already in UNHCR warehouses⁵ in the region. So, it is just a matter of moving them closer to the border, so they are there if needed," he said. "And, longer term, we are also looking at purchasing additional relief supplies for up to 100,000 people, if necessary. We are also moving more equipment - trucks and other sorts of materials, to Kenya to boost our logistical capacity."

Redmond says no significant refugee movements have yet been seen from the recent fighting. But, he says there are reports of people headed toward border areas, and, he says, heavy flooding in the region makes it difficult for people to move around.

1 exodus   

v.大批离去，成群外出

参考例句：

• The medical system is facing collapse because of an exodus of doctors.由于医生大批离去，医疗系统面临崩溃。
• Man's great challenge at this moment is to prevent his exodus from this planet.人在当前所遇到的最大挑战，就是要防止人从这个星球上消失。

2 contingency   

n.意外事件，可能性

参考例句：

• We should be prepared for any contingency.我们应该对任何应急情况有所准备。
• A fire in our warehouse was a contingency that we had not expected.库房的一场大火是我们始料未及的。

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 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。

5 warehouses   

仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The whisky was taken to bonded warehouses at Port Dundee. 威士忌酒已送到邓迪港的保稅仓库。
• Row upon row of newly built warehouses line the waterfront. 江岸新建的仓库鳞次栉比。