VOA标准英语2008年-UNHCR Urges South Africa Not to Deport Zimbabwe

The U.N. refugee agency is urging the government of South Africa not to forcibly deport¹ Zimbabwean asylum² seekers back to their home country where they could face danger. The UNHCR reports a significant increase in the number of Zimbabweans crossing into South Africa following the presidential runoff vote at the end of June. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.

The U.N. refugee agency says it is disturbed by the pattern of displacement³ from Zimbabwe since last month's presidential election. Previously⁴, it says most Zimbabweans crossing the border into South Africa were single men or women seeking work.

But, it says an increasing number of families are now arriving as a result of political violence. UNHCR spokeswoman, Jennifer Pagonis, says several people have shown signs of beatings or torture.

"In the town of Musina near the northern border with Zimbabwe in South Africa, there is a visible presence of vulnerable Zimbabweans sleeping rough in the bush, begging at the traffic lights and clearly in distressed⁵ circumstances and desperately⁶ needing humanitarian⁷ help... Many of the new arrivals are entering the country through unauthorized border points," she said. "Those entering legally do not usually claim asylum upon entry. So this makes it difficult to give an accurate estimate of the numbers involved. They are fearful of arrest and deportation⁸, they remain underground, making them vulnerable to other forms of violence and exploitation, such as rape⁹ and robbery."
　
A refugee family from Zimbabwe sit together in the Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg, 30 Jun 2008

Pagonis says figures from reliable sources show some 17,000 Zimbabweans have been deported¹⁰ from South Africa through the Beit Bridge border post in the last 40 days alone. She says these deportations have gone ahead despite earlier calls from the UNHCR to suspend all forcible returns.

"In view of the large scale deportations, coupled with the difficulties that Zimbabweans face braving the crowds to access the national asylum procedure, it creates a real risk that refoulement - or forcible return to their country of origin where they could face danger - could occur," said Pagonis. "The High Commissioner¹¹ is reiterating¹² his appeal to South Africa to halt all deportations of Zimbabweans and ensure that those seeking asylum should have access to the national asylum procedures."

Given the critical situation, Pagonis says the UNHCR is appealing to South Africa to exceptionally grant Zimbabweans a temporary legal status allowing them to stay in the country.

The U.N. agency reports hundreds of Zimbabwean asylum seekers in need of protection also have arrived in Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique since March.

　

 

1 deport   

vt.驱逐出境

参考例句：

• We deport aliens who slip across our borders.我们把偷渡入境的外国人驱逐出境。
• More than 240 England football fans are being deported from Italy following riots last night.昨晚的骚乱发生后有240多名英格兰球迷被驱逐出意大利。

2 asylum   

n.避难所，庇护所，避难

参考例句：

• The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
• Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。

3 displacement   

n.移置，取代，位移，排水量

参考例句：

• They said that time is the feeling of spatial displacement.他们说时间是空间位移的感觉。
• The displacement of all my energy into caring for the baby.我所有精力都放在了照顾宝宝上。

4 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。

5 distressed   

痛苦的

参考例句：

• He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑，无法回答他们的问题。
• The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。

6 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

7 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。

8 deportation   

n.驱逐，放逐

参考例句：

• The government issued a deportation order against the four men.政府发出了对那4名男子的驱逐令。
• Years ago convicted criminals in England could face deportation to Australia.很多年以前，英国已定罪的犯人可能被驱逐到澳大利亚。

9 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

10 deported   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止

参考例句：

• They stripped me of my citizenship and deported me. 他们剥夺我的公民资格，将我驱逐出境。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The convicts were deported to a deserted island. 罪犯们被流放到一个荒岛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

12 reiterating   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He keeps reiterating his innocence. 他一再申明他无罪。
• The Chinese government also sent a note to the British government, reiterating its position. 中国政府同时将此立场照会英国政府。