VOA慢速英语2021--孟加拉国难民营大火致15人死亡400人失踪

Rohingya Camp Fire Leaves 15 Dead, 400 Missing

The United Nations says at least 15 people were killed in a massive fire at a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh.

The fire injured more than 550 people and left 400 missing at the camp near the coastal¹ city of Cox's Bazar, the U.N. refugee agency said Tuesday. About 45,000 people were left without shelter.

The fire started around midday Monday at the Balukhali camp and burned into the night. Bangladeshi officials were investigating the fire, as aid workers and families searched for further victims and belongings².

"Everything has gone. Thousands are without homes," Rohingya refugee Aman Ullah told Reuters. "The fire was brought under control after six hours, but some parts of the camp could be seen smoking all night long."

Sanjeev Kafley is head of the International Federation³ of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Bangladesh. He said more than 17,000 shelters had been destroyed. He added that at least 1,000 Red Cross workers and volunteers had worked with fire services to fight the fire.

"Yesterday before the fire started, my kids went to study at the Islamic school," said Shappuni, a refugee who uses only one name. "I did not see them after they came back. I found two of my older kids but I still can't find my youngest son."

Some witnesses said barbed wire fencing around the camp had trapped many people and hurt others, leading international aid agencies to call for its removal.

John Quinley is with Fortify⁴ Rights, a human rights organization working with Rohingya refugees. He said he had heard similar reports. He added that the fences had also harmed past efforts to get aid supplies and important services to the camps.

"The government must remove the fences and protect refugees," Quinley said. "There have now been a number of large fires in the camps including a large fire in January this year." He called on officials to carry out full investigations⁵ into the cause of the fires.

The January fire also destroyed hundreds of temporary homes in the camp and left thousands without shelter.

M. A. Halimis heads operations in Cox's Bazar for the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society. He said in a statement the organization was providing food and water to victims and building emergency shelters for those who lost homes.

The U.N.'s World Food Program said many victims went to nearby camps or were staying at friends' shelters. Others were being kept at learning centers for children or temporary shelter sites.

Bangladesh shelters more than one million Rohingyas. Most fled Myanmar in August 2017 when its military began to attack the minority Muslim population, killing⁶ and raping⁷ many people and burning whole villages. The U.N. has described the country's action as genocidal. Myanmar denies the accusation⁸.

Bangladesh wants to begin sending the refugees back to Buddhist-majority Myanmar. Several attempts to do so under a joint⁹ agreement failed because the Rohingya refused to go. They fear they will face more violence in Myanmar. The country denies them basic rights including citizenship¹⁰.

Words in This Story

kids – n. children

barbed wire – n. strong wire with short, sharp points on it to keep people out of a place

1 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

2 belongings   

n.私人物品，私人财物

参考例句：

• I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
• Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。

3 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

4 fortify   

v.强化防御，为…设防；加强，强化

参考例句：

• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。
• This treaty forbade the United States to fortify the canal.此条约禁止美国对运河设防。

5 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

6 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

7 raping   

v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的现在分词 )；强奸

参考例句：

• In response, Charles VI sent a punitive expedition to Brittany, raping and killing the populace. 作为报复，查理六世派军讨伐布列塔尼，奸淫杀戮平民。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The conquerors marched on, burning, killing, raping and plundering as they went. 征服者所到之处烧杀奸掠，无所不做。 来自互联网

8 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。

9 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

10 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。