VOA标准英语10月-Aid Workers in Kabul Alerted to Security Threats

Afghanistan's government is reviewing protection for foreign aid workers in the country. VOA Correspondent Steve Herman in Kabul reports the review follows the killing¹ of a charity worker in the capital Monday.
　

Gayle Williams (undated handout2 image released by the charity SERVE Afghanistan)

The hundreds of foreign aid workers in Afghanistan have been put on alert by the country's government that they need to take increased security precautions.

The announcement follows the killing of 34-year-old Gayle Williams. The dual³ British-South African national was gunned down as she walked to work in a Kabul suburb.

The Taliban claim responsibility for the execution-style street shooting, contending she was trying to spread Christianity. Authorities say they have no confirmation⁴ that the killing was carried out by the insurgents⁵.

The humanitarian⁶ organization for which Williams worked, SERVE Afghanistan, denies it proselytizes⁷ in the country, which is illegal under Afghan law.
　

Humayun Hamidzada

Presidential spokesman Humayun Hamidzada, speaking at a news conference, said the government remains⁸ committed to providing security for foreigners working in the capital.

"The international workers based in Kabul, be it with the aid agencies or in the private sector⁹, they should get in touch with the relevant police departments, review their security measures and make sure they take necessary precautions while they commute," he said.

While the tens of thousands of foreign troops in the country travel in military convoys¹⁰, carry weapons and wear body armor the majority of aid workers, foreign laborers¹¹ and news correspondents usually move about without heavy protection. That gives them easier access to ordinary Afghans, but makes them more vulnerable.

Six of the 30 aid workers killed in Afghanistan this year have been foreigners.

Officials say Williams' death could hinder the work of non-government groups in the country. Many of the foreign workers provide essential management of and training for numerous vital projects for Afghanistan's reconstruction¹².

There are also thousands of Pakistanis and Indians in the country, working primarily in the construction industry. Insurgents have previously¹³ targeted some of the Indians.

The capital, Kabul, has been relatively¹⁴ calm this year with the notable exceptions of bombings of a luxury hotel and the Indian Embassy, as well as an assassination¹⁵ attempt against President Hamid Karzai.

Billions of dollars in aid from around the world have poured into the country in the past seven years, following the ouster of the Taliban. The country remains one of the poorest in the world, devastated¹⁶ by decades of war.

1 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

2 handout   

n.散发的文字材料；救济品

参考例句：

• I read the handout carefully.我仔细看了这份分发的资料。
• His job was distributing handout at the street-corner.他的工作是在街头发传单。

3 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

4 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

5 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

6 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。

7 proselytizes   

v.（使）改变宗教信仰[政治信仰、意见等]，使变节( proselytize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• First time proselytizes in the journey in Paulo, he arrives to call the handkerchief not place. 在保罗的第一次传道旅途中，他来到一个叫帕弗的地方。 来自互联网
• The god and human's communication is through proselytizes, publicizes Jesus Christ's truth to realize. 神与人的沟通是通过传道，宣扬耶稣基督的真理来实现的。 来自互联网

8 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。

9 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

10 convoys   

n.（有护航的）船队( convoy的名词复数 )；车队；护航（队）；护送队

参考例句：

• Truck convoys often stop over for lunch here. 车队经常在这里停下来吃午饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A UN official said aid programs will be suspended until there's adequate protection for relief convoys. 一名联合国官员说将会暂停援助项目，直到援助车队能够得到充分的保护为止。 来自辞典例句

11 laborers   

n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工

参考例句：

• Laborers were trained to handle 50-ton compactors and giant cranes. 工人们接受操作五十吨压土机和巨型起重机的训练。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Wage-labour rests exclusively on competition between the laborers. 雇佣劳动完全是建立在工人的自相竞争之上的。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言

12 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

13 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。

14 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

15 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

16 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。