VOA慢速英语2014 Pro-Russian Separatists Face Health Crisis

 

AS IT IS 2014-11-30 Pro-Russian Separatists Face Health Crisis

The government in Ukraine is threatening to stop financial support for hospitals and medical services in areas controlled by pro-Russian separatists. The announcement comes as some people in those areas appear to be tiring of the fighting between the separatists and government forces.                    

Victor Kuchkovoy serves as health minister of the region the rebels call the Donetsk People’s Republic. Right now, his decisions could affect the future of the rebellion against Ukraine’s government. If the government stops paying hospitals and doctors in the east, the insurgents² may face anger from people living in the Dobnas area.

That is exactly what the government in Kyiv hopes will happen.        

Dr. Kuchkovoy says pro-Russian fighters have been preparing for the loss of financial support. He says they are hoping to make the best of their resources. He says the fighters monitor, watch over, the 193 medical centers under their control.  And, he says they direct humanitarian³ aid to where it is most needed. The aid comes mainly from Russia, and the medical teams in the rebel-held areas have not received their pay for months.           

The doctor said that, even before the announcement about halting financial aid, the government in Kyiv had been cutting support to the east.                 

Last week, there were signs that some people were tiring of the conflict. Small anti-separatist protests took place in the Dobnas area. The leaders are mostly women and old people. The “hunger protests” happened mainly in smaller towns.

About 2,000 people took part in an anti-separatist protest in Sverdlovsk. They held pro-Ukraine banners and demanded that the people they call “Russian troops” leave the town. The fighters have called themselves, “volunteers.”      

Ukraine’s Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, defended the government decision to cut payments for public services. On his Facebook page, he blamed Russia for any suffering because he said it incited⁴ the current conflict.

The rebellion began after the ouster earlier this year of Ukraine’s pro-Russia President, Viktor Yanukovych.                                                         

Mr. Yatsenyuk wrote, “The Kremlin is responsible for the humanitarian disaster which is threatening to come to the Donetsk and Luhansk areas. As soon as the Russian troops leave the Ukrainian territory, normal life will return to the Donbas.”

The United Nations says more than 4,000 people have died in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. More than 10,000 others have been wounded.                      

It seems unclear whether the rebels can deal with the humanitarian challenges caused by the conflict in the coming weeks. Observers say the rebels in Donetsk seem better organized than those in neighboring Luhansk.                                                                    

A 40-year-old woman named Julia demonstrated the mood of some residents as she stood in line for food set up by a local businessman. She said the aid banks operated by separatists in Donetsk give out less food than the private aid center.

Words in This Story

region – n., a part of a country, of the world, etc. that is different or separate from other parts in some way

insurgent¹ - n., a person who fights against the established government or authorities

resources - n., a supply of something (such as money) that someone has and can use when it is needed

monitor – v., to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something)

banner - v., a large strip of cloth with a design, picture or writing on it

mood – n., the way someone feels; a person’s emotional state

residents – n.,  people who live in a particular place, usually for a long time

1 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

2 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

3 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。

4 incited   

刺激，激励，煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He incited people to rise up against the government. 他煽动人们起来反对政府。
• The captain's example incited the men to bravery. 船长的榜样激发了水手们的勇敢精神。