VOA标准英语2012--Satellite Images Show Oil Pipeline Damage in Heglig

Satellite Images Show Oil Pipeline¹ Damage in Heglig

 

New satellite imagery indicates recent clashes between Sudanese and South Sudanese forces have severely² damaged a key oil pipeline. The Satellite Sentinel Project focused its cameras on the disputed border town of Heglig.

Heglig sits on the disputed border between Southern Kordofan State in Sudan and Unity³ State in South Sudan. The recent fighting caused many to fear a resumption of full-scale war was in the making.

South Sudan forces reportedly entered Heglig in retaliation⁴ for an attack by northern forces on the town of Teshwin earlier this month. While Southern Sudanese forces have withdrawn⁵ from Heglig, tensions between the two countries remain very high.

Explosions and looting

Nathanial Raymond is director of operations for the Harvard Humanitarian⁶ Project, which analyzes⁷ the satellite imagery.

“We have seen evidence that the main collection manifold, which is the point where several pipes come together in an oil field at Heglig, has been destroyed. We do not know who destroyed it or when it was destroyed, but we do know that there was some form of explosion on or around the collection manifold in the Heglig oil field,” he said.

Raymond said it’s unclear what the full effects of the destruction of the manifold will be. However, a halt to the flow of oil in the area is one possibility.

The satellite images indicate other damage, including looting, in Heglig. Raymond said they allegedly show it was done by South Sudan forces, the SPLA.

“We’re focusing on the SPLA for one reason. The Satellite Sentinel Project has been set up to report on apparent violations⁸ of the laws of war by any party to this conflict. And whether you’re looting a civilian⁹ structure or looting a military base it is not allowed underneath¹⁰ the laws of war. And in the case of Heglig, we are seeing the apparent looting of a SAF installation and apparent intentional¹¹ destruction of structures that look like civilian houses,” he said.

Air power

The satellite images are also said to show a build-up of Sudanese Armed Forces aircraft in lower Southern Kordofan State.

“There is a large portion of the total combat air strength of the Sudan Armed Forces Air Force in range of attacking South Sudan. The images we’ve seen from the El Obeid and Kadugli airbases suggest that they have brought in over half of certain classes of attack aircraft into range with the capacity to strike,” said Raymond.

Raymond described it as the single largest buildup of Sudan Armed Forces air capacity ever witnessed by the Satellite Sentinel Project.

“Despite SAF denials about having recently launched air attacks into South Sudan, we see evidence consistent with reported air strikes in Bentiu, which is the capital of Unity State,” he said.

The U.S. State Department has said Sudan and South Sudan “have not finalized¹² the number and size of disputed areas along their shared border.”

It added, there is a “mechanism to resolve these disputes” through negotiations¹³ through the Africa Union. The U.S. calls on both parties “not to use military force and unilateral actions to settle disputes but instead to use peaceful means and existing mechanisms¹⁴.” 

1 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

2 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

3 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

4 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

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 analyzes   

v.分析( analyze的第三人称单数 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析

参考例句：

• This approach analyzes management by studying experience usually through cases. 这个学派通常从实例获得经验，用以分析管理。 来自辞典例句
• The econometrician analyzes statistical data. 经济计量学者要分析统计材料。 来自辞典例句

8 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

9 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

10 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

11 intentional   

adj.故意的，有意（识）的

参考例句：

• Let me assure you that it was not intentional.我向你保证那不是故意的。
• His insult was intentional.他的侮辱是有意的。

12 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

13 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

14 mechanisms   

n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》