VOA标准英语2008年-Famine Warning Network Says Zimbabwe's Food Cri

By Peta Thornycroft
Harare
09 June 2008

Zimbabwe's current food crisis is the worst since government records began and is expected to worsen as summer crops will feed no more than 28 percent of the population according to an alert just issued by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, FEWSNET. Peta Thornycroft reports from Harare that Zimbabwe will now have to import a massive amount of food, particularly since it has ordered non-governmental organizations to stop distributing emergency food aid.
　

Zimbabwean woman puts maize1 into bag in Domboshawa, 23 Apr 2008

Fewsnet provides detailed² information about food security in Zimbabwe and many other African countries. The U.S.-funded agency says Zimbabwe's 2008 cereal crops were the worst since records began even though the country's farmers plant more acres.

Fewsnet says that exceptionally heavy rain, then a long dry spell, as well as the government's failure to make esssential farming resources available, all contributed to record low yields.

It says in its report that humanitarian³ agencies will have to play an increased role until next summer's harvest which begins in April of 2009.

Fewsnet predicted there would be political interference in food distribution.

On Thursday the government instructed international food agencies to withdraw from field work.

Zimbabwe's "Lawyers for Human Rights" says it has studied the letter written to the non governmental sector⁴, and says reasons provided by welfare minister Nicholas Goche, have no basis in law. Goche charged the non-governmental sector had promoted the opposition⁵ Movement for Democratic Change ahead of the March 29 elections.

Nevertheless, the aid agencies, which have denied Goche's allegations, have chosen not to challenge his instructions. Many of them are withdrawing personnel and infrastructure⁶ from their field posts.

People working in aid agencies in Zimbabwe believe they have been closed down for two reasons. The first they say, is because they are witnesses to what goes on in the rural areas. The second is that they believe that President Robert Mugabe's government will soon begin food distribution ahead of the second round of the presidential election on June 27.

The runoff election became necessary because, although opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai beat President Robert Mugabe, he did not win more than 50 percent of votes cast.

The United Nations in Zimbabwe estimates that an average of about four million people will be affected⁷ by the government ban on aid agency work. Among them will be 185,000 children and tens of thousands of people receiving anti retroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS who need constant monitoring according to the Zimbabwe AIDS Council.

1 maize   

n.玉米

参考例句：

• There's a field planted with maize behind the house.房子后面有一块玉米地。
• We can grow sorghum or maize on this plot.这块地可以种高粱或玉米。

2 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

3 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。

4 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。

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

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 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。