VOA标准英语2009年-WFP Welcomes Israel's 'Humanitarian Recess' in

The U.N. World Food Program says Israel's decision to hold its fire for three hours a day in Gaza City will help ease the plight¹ of the conflict-stricken population. The WFP says more is needed.
　

Palestinians wait in line to buy bread at a bakery in Gaza City, 07 Jan 2009

The World Food Program says the three-hour daily pause in military air strikes will provide a bit of relief to the beleaguered² population of Gaza, but, it is not enough.

In a telephone interview from Jerusalem, WFP Spokesman, Robin³ Lodge⁴, tells VOA, the so-called humanitarian⁵ recess⁶ is only a first step.

"We are looking for a longer cease fire and indeed a permanent cease fire period, which we see as the only way we can possibly, actually resume full-scale humanitarian support for the people of Gaza," said Lodge. "That is not just WFP. But, that is the whole humanitarian community."
　

Palestinians collect water during a three-hour break in the 12-day Israeli bombardment of Gaza City, 07 Jan. 2009

International pressure has been building up on Israel to agree to a cease-fire amid warnings of a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel says the three-hour daily bombing respite⁷ will allow the residents of Gaza City to acquire basic necessities and to seek aid from international organizations.

The WFP has a regular caseload of 265,000 non-refugee Palestinians in Gaza. Since Israel began its military offensive on December 27, the number of beneficiaries has increased by 50,000.

Lodge says the WFP has enough food stocks in Gaza City to last several weeks. But he notes a lot of the food is kept in government warehouses⁸ and, for security reasons, it is difficult to access it.

He describes the situation in Gaza as very bleak⁹.

"There is very little food commercially available," he said. "Very few stores have any food. There is a widespread shortage of cash so commercial activities have virtually ground to a halt. As far as the bakeries are concerned, they are no longer getting supplied with flour from the mills because the mills have run out of wheat. At present, the latest idea is that only 14 out of 47 bakeries in Gaza are operating and they are operating at very reduced capacity. We are trying to help out by delivering flour to bakeries."

Israel says the humanitarian recess will enable about 80 trucks carrying medicine, medical supplies, basic food and fuel to pass into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing.

The World Food Program is calling for all crossing points to be reopened as soon as possible. It says it is vital that the Karni crossing be opened. It says Karni has a conveyor belt for loading and unloading food, which would avoid breaks in its supply line.

The agency also is appealing to international donors¹⁰ to plug the $73 million shortfall it is running for its Gaza humanitarian operations.

1 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

2 beleaguered   

adj.受到围困[围攻]的；包围的v.围攻( beleaguer的过去式和过去分词)；困扰；骚扰

参考例句：

• The beleaguered party leader was forced to resign. 那位饱受指责的政党领导人被迫辞职。
• We are beleaguered by problems. 我们被许多困难所困扰。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

4 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

5 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。

6 recess   

n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）

参考例句：

• The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
• Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。

7 respite   

n.休息，中止，暂缓

参考例句：

• She was interrogated without respite for twenty-four hours.她被不间断地审问了二十四小时。
• Devaluation would only give the economy a brief respite.贬值只能让经济得到暂时的缓解。

8 warehouses   

仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The whisky was taken to bonded warehouses at Port Dundee. 威士忌酒已送到邓迪港的保稅仓库。
• Row upon row of newly built warehouses line the waterfront. 江岸新建的仓库鳞次栉比。

9 bleak   

adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的

参考例句：

• They showed me into a bleak waiting room.他们引我来到一间阴冷的会客室。
• The company's prospects look pretty bleak.这家公司的前景异常暗淡。

10 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》