2006年VOA标准英语-Violence Continues in Darfur

By Noel King
Khartoum
03 October 2006

The African Union mission in Sudan has reported a flare-up in violence in southern Darfur. The AU says the former rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) has begun attacking civilians¹ in Gereida, following clashes between the SLM and another rebel group.

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Head of AU Commission Alpha Oumar Konare, right, inspects an honor guard during an arrival ceremony at AU headquarters at Darfur town of Al-Fasher (File photo - June 20, 2006)

The AU says at least 11 people have died during the fighting, which began late last week in Gereida town.  It borders a camp, also called Gereida, which is home to 130,000 displaced Darfuris.

According to news reports, humanitarian² workers have begun to flee Gereida, because of the violence.

AU spokesman Noureddine Mezni tells VOA AU commanders reported Tuesday the SLM has begun attacking civilians in Gereida.

"The AU military group site in Gereida reported today that SLM combatants had driven most of the males out of Gereida," he said.  "The SLM combatants were busy looting the properties of the men and raping³ the wives. The situation is very, very tense and we are very concerned about this situation."

The Guardian⁴ newspaper reports the fighting began when the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) attacked members of the Sudan Liberation Movement, which signed a peace agreement with the Sudanese government in May.

The rebel JEM refused to sign onto the peace deal. The signing of the agreement by some factions⁵ ignited violence among rebel groups.

The African Union has agreed to remain in volatile⁶ Darfur until December, following Sudan's refusal to grant entry to a United Nations mission.

Sudan said this week it will not grant an unlimited⁷ extension to AU troops in Darfur.   This was in response to a suggestion by top U.N. envoy⁸ to Sudan, Jan Pronk, that the AU remain in Darfur, indefinitely.

Fadlalla Ibrahim, a spokesman for the Sudanese Ministry⁹ of Foreign Affairs, tells VOA that, as of now, the AU mandate¹⁰ will terminate in December.
 
"From now until December, no problem," he said.  "After that, it will be discussed. Sudan has no problem with the AU forces, but now what is available is an extension until December."

Arab League President Amr Moussa arrived in Khartoum, Monday, for talks with Sudanese President Omer Al Bashir.  The Arab League has offered financial support to the cash-strapped AU.

The three-and-one-half year conflict has killed tens of thousands of people.  It has displaced some two million people in remote Darfur and neighboring Chad.

1 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

2 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。

3 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

4 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

5 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

6 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

7 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

8 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

9 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

10 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。