VOA标准英语2016--土耳其关闭边境导致叙利亚难民家庭分离

Turkey Border Closure Divides Syrian Refugee Families

LONDON—

In a dark, damp backyard of an apartment block in the Turkish city of Gaziantep, 60 kilometers from the Syrian border, Samar Shekho straps¹ a ventilator over the nose and mouth of her five-year-old son, Ali.  He suffers from asthma² and needs the machine to help him breathe.

Samar fled her home in Aleppo four months ago with Ali and his cousin, as Russian and Syrian government forces intensified³ airstrikes on the rebel-held city. Ali’s father paid a smuggler⁴ to help them flee to Turkey.

"My husband wanted to come to Turkey too, but it is too expensive, so he could only send me here. The border is closed and the smugglers want a lot of money," Samar said.

Syrian families fleeing the civil war are being divided, as Turkey has tightened⁶ border controls to stem the flow of refugees.

Many families do not travel together, but instead send family members a few at a time. Those left behind have become trapped.

Turkish officials say travelers carrying the right papers, and those who are injured, are allowed through. Officials in Ankara say they are under pressure to tighten⁵ controls following the migrant deal with Europe, under which all irregular migrants arriving in Greece are to be returned to Turkey.

Samar's brother, Majid, was the first to escape to Turkey 18 months ago. He had been supporting the family through his job at a local clothing factory, but says the work has dried up.

"There are many Syrians here, and it was especially difficult in the beginning,” he said. “I learned some skills, but there is very little work here and it is difficult finding a job. I am looking. I hope I can find something."

Without any family income, life is getting tougher. Ali's ventilator only works properly if the correct medicine is added, but his mother can barely afford the electricity to run it, let alone the medicine.

"Everything is expensive here," she said. "I want to get a refugee identity card for my child that will make it easier to see a doctor, but I even need money for that. Life is difficult."

Samar's husband is trying to sell his shop in Aleppo so he can pay a smuggler and be reunited with his family. But no one wants to buy a business in a war zone.

In the meantime, Samar is dependent on handouts⁷ from sympathetic locals to help care for her children.

1 straps   

n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带

参考例句：

• the shoulder straps of her dress 她连衣裙上的肩带
• The straps can be adjusted to suit the wearer. 这些背带可进行调整以适合使用者。

2 asthma   

n.气喘病，哮喘病

参考例句：

• I think he's having an asthma attack.我想他现在是哮喘病发作了。
• Its presence in allergic asthma is well known.它在过敏性气喘中的存在是大家很熟悉的。

3 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 smuggler   

n.走私者

参考例句：

• The smuggler is in prison tonight, awaiting extradition to Britain. 这名走私犯今晚在监狱，等待引渡到英国。
• The smuggler was finally obliged to inform against his boss. 那个走私犯最后不得不告发他的首领。

5 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

6 tightened   

收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
• His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。

7 handouts   

救济品( handout的名词复数 )； 施舍物； 印刷品； 讲义

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts. 士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Even after losing his job, he was too proud to accept handouts. 甚至在失去工作后，他仍然很骄傲，不愿接受施舍。