2007年VOA标准英语-UNHCR Resumes Voluntary Repatriation to Afghani

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
02 March 2007

The U.N. refugee agency says it is resuming the voluntary repatriation¹ of Afghans who have been living in Pakistan. These assisted returns will take place in two phases and are linked to the recently concluded registration² drive that shows more than two million Afghans remain in Pakistan. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.

 
Ron Redmond (file photo)

U.N. refugee agency spokesman Ron Redmond says the registration process has been important to determine which refugees are eligible³ for assistance.

He says every Afghan who applies for voluntary repatriation has to pass a verification test that involves scanning the person's eye.

He says the iris⁴ scan, which was introduced two years ago, has been very effective in weeding out individuals UNHCR previously⁵ helped return.

"We have a huge data base now of these scans," he said. "I don't know what proportion it turns up of people who try to circle back and go through the system again so they can get assistance. But, it has been very effective. Most of the Afghans are aware of that, and so, I think, it has substantially reduced the number of, what we call, double-backers."

 
First Afghan returnees bundle up for the long ride from Peshawar to Afghanistan
The UNHCR gives returnees a generous assistance package to help them restart their lives. The so-called double-backers would sign up for multiple voluntary returns to get more of this free aid. The package includes tools, building materials, and, in some cases, cash grants to pay for transportation to home villages.

Redmond says hundreds of thousands of Afghans who remain in Pakistan and Iran do not want to return home. He says they have lived in exile for more than two decades and have planted new roots. He says many have businesses and jobs. Many have raised families and feel more at home in Pakistan and Iran than in Afghanistan.

For those who do return, Redmond says, life is not easy.

"A large number of them go to Kabul. And, Kabul, you have probably seen stories over the past few years, has got a lot of people living in really sub-standard housing, so it is very difficult for them," Redmond said.

"But, what we have encouraged is people to go back to rural areas. And, then you have got to have the infrastructure⁶ in place, the irrigation, schools for the children -- all of these things in place. It has been slow, but there has been progress in Afghanistan," he added.

Redmond says UNHCR teams travel to return areas to check on the progress of returnees. The agency is planning to repatriate⁷ about 250,000 Afghans from Pakistan and Iran this year.

1 repatriation   

n.遣送回国，归国

参考例句：

• The Volrep programme is the preferred means of repatriation. 政府认为自愿遣返计划的遣返方法较为可取。 来自互联网
• Arrange the cargo claiming and maritime affairs,crews repatriation,medical treatment,traveling so on. （六）洽办货物理赔，船舶海事处理，办理船员遣返，就医，旅游等。 来自互联网

2 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

3 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

4 iris   

n.虹膜，彩虹

参考例句：

• The opening of the iris is called the pupil.虹膜的开口处叫做瞳孔。
• This incredible human eye,complete with retina and iris,can be found in the Maldives.又是在马尔代夫，有这样一只难以置信的眼睛，连视网膜和虹膜都刻画齐全了。

5 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

6 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

7 repatriate   

v.遣返；返回；n.被遣返回国者

参考例句：

• The government safely repatriates victims.政府安全遣返了受害者。
• In this part,you need to formulate in detail repatriate the plan.在这一部分，你需要制定详细的归国计划。