VOA标准英语2008年-Red Cross Begins Assistance to Residents of Sou

The International Committee of the Red Cross says its delegates are assessing the humanitarian¹ situation in South Ossetia and have begun administering to the needs of the resident population. The ICRC says a 17-member team, which arrived in the Georgian breakaway region on Wednesday, surveyed conditions in the capital, Tshkinvali on Thursday and is continuing its mission Friday. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from ICRC headquarters in Geneva.
　
Ossetians stay in a basement of a destroyed hospital in Tskhinvali, capital of Georgian breakaway enclave of South Ossetia, 11 Aug 2008

The International Committee of the Red Cross says its aid workers, contrary to some reports, found that the main hospital in Tshkinvali was not completely destroyed, though some buildings in this large complex were damaged.

The 17-member team includes a surgeon, orthopedic specialist, water and habitat specialist and an assistance specialist.

Red Cross spokeswoman, Anna Nelson, says the team is meeting with hospital technicians Friday to see what needs to be done to improve the water and sanitation² supply systems.

"The team was told by doctors on Thursday that all 223 people who had been wounded in the conflict and taken to the hospital, had already been transferred to medical facilities in the Russian Federation," she said.

"The team was able to see more of the city on Thursday. They say that there seems to be about half the normal population in the city. This is, of course, just an estimate. Earlier reports had indicated that the city was mainly empty so the number of people currently there could be an indicator³ that some displaced have returned home," she continued.
　
A Russian soldier walks past buildings destroyed during recent fighting in Tskhinvali, the Georgian breakaway province of South Ossetia's capital, 16 Aug 2008

In some parts of the city, the Red Cross team reports seeing buildings destroyed, including the library, windows blown out of buildings and covered with plastic. In some of the buildings, it says the electricity and water supplies are up and running with some occasional cuts.

They say supplies, such as oil and fruit juice can be found in the stores, but residents are mainly receiving their meals from the Russian government's emergency agency.

In the meantime, the UN refugee agency reports High Commissioner⁴, Antonio Guterres, is visiting South Ossetia Friday, thanks to the intercession of Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov. Guterres is the first senior international official to travel to South Ossetia since the conflict between Russia and Georgia erupted
in early August.

UNHCR spokesman, Andrej Mahecic, says his aim is to evaluate the humanitarian situation, get a first-hand view of the conditions for the return of those uprooted⁵ by the crisis, as well as the possibilities for humanitarian access.

"UNHCR will continue its humanitarian assistance based in a strictly⁶ non-political approach while stressing the non-discriminatory nature of humanitarian action for all of the people affected⁷ by the conflict and emphasizing the right of return for all of the displaced regardless of ethnicity, religion or political affiliation," he said.
　
UNHCR distributes blankets, kitchen sets and jerry cans to some 1,500 people from South Ossetia now living in a collective centre in Tbilisi, Georgia

While the Red Cross and UNHCR have been able to enter South Ossetia, other aid agencies continue to be sidelined.

The United Nations is renewing its call for access to South Ossetia. It says its many specialized⁸ agencies, such as the World Food Program and World Health Organization, have resources that other international agencies do not have. It says they would complement⁹ and add value to the humanitarian work currently being carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

1 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。

2 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

3 indicator   

n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器

参考例句：

• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.黃金价格常常被看作是通货膨胀的指标。
• His left-hand indicator is flashing.他左手边的转向灯正在闪亮。

4 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。

5 uprooted   

v.把（某物）连根拔起( uproot的过去式和过去分词 )；根除；赶走；把…赶出家园

参考例句：

• Many people were uprooted from their homes by the flood. 水灾令许多人背井离乡。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The hurricane blew with such force that trees were uprooted. 飓风强烈地刮着，树都被连根拔起了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

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。

8 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

9 complement   

n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足

参考例句：

• The two suggestions complement each other.这两条建议相互补充。
• They oppose each other also complement each other.它们相辅相成。