2006年VOA标准英语-In Southern Africa, Humanitarian Aid For the Ne

By William Eagle
Washington,DC
29 December 2006

A confluence¹ of events has led to an increase in food and health needs in Zimbabwe.  Like other parts of southern Africa, Zimbabwe has been the victim of drought, and a subsequent decline in crop production.  Critics say the poor have also been negatively affected² by social policies, including disruptions in food production and cash crop exports by the government’s appropriation³ of many commercial farms.  United Nations figures estimate that the situation has affected about 160,000 households made up of former farm workers.

Also, a controversial program to remove rural migrants from the capital, called Operation Restore Order, has left up to 700,000 without food and shelter.  Over a million people in Zimabwe’s rural areas are said to need food aid.

Stephanie Bunker is a spokeswoman for the UN Office of Humanitarian⁴ Affairs in New York City.

Out of the 214 million dollars of aid we’re seeking for the country,$ 62 million of it is for food aid.  There is a lot of food insecurity…there are people who are still affected by Operation Restore Order and who do not have appropriate housing.  (There are) lots of people with a lack of access to basic social services.  (Galloping) inflation is very serious issue...this makes it harder for people to meet basic needs….”

The UN estimates that up to 20 percent of the country’s 11 million people are affected by HIV / AIDS.   Over a million are said to be living with HIV/ AIDS, while another 1.4 million children have lost either one or both parents to the disease.

Zimbabwe is also the home of over 3,000 refugees, and about two million people born in the country, but whose citizenship⁵ the government disputes.

The country is also affected by a loss of skilled labor⁶.  Says Bunker: “They have a lot of emigration going to neighboring countries where (people) can make a better living and they are not earning in local currency, which is eroded⁸ by inflation. That is how a country like Zimbabwe loses its teachers, doctors, and nurses.  You also have a lot of migration⁷ from within the country from rural to urban areas, and this has its implications for the life in the countryside, food production and for the people who have emigrated into the cities who are struggling to support themselves there.”

UN agencies are asking donors⁹ for $214 million dollars in aid in the coming year. Projects would include agriculture and livelihood¹⁰ support for 300,000 households; improve educational services for 150 thousand children and temporary shelter to about 4,200 people. Health programs would inoculate¹¹ over five million people against disease, provide health care for nearly three million mothers and children and provide improved access to sanitation¹² for 2.5 million people. (http://ochaonline.un.org/humanitarianappeal/webpage.htm?MenuID=8875&Page=1500)

Feedback:

We'd like to hear what you have to say. Let us know what you think of this report and other news and features on our website. Email your views about what is happening in Africa to: [email protected] include your name and phone number if you would like us to include your comments on our programs.

1 confluence   

n.汇合，聚集

参考例句：

• They built the city at the confluence of two rivers.他们建造了城市的汇合两条河流。
• The whole DV movements actually was a confluence of several trends.整个当时的DV运动，实际上是几股潮流的同谋。

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 appropriation   

n.拨款，批准支出

参考例句：

• Our government made an appropriation for the project.我们的政府为那个工程拨出一笔款项。
• The council could note an annual appropriation for this service.议会可以为这项服务表决给他一笔常年经费。

4 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。

5 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。

6 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

7 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

8 eroded   

adj. 被侵蚀的，有蚀痕的 动词erode的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The cliff face has been steadily eroded by the sea. 峭壁表面逐渐被海水侵蚀。
• The stream eroded a channel in the solid rock. 小溪在硬石中侵蚀成一条水道。

9 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

11 inoculate   

v.给...接种，给...注射疫苗

参考例句：

• A corps of doctors arrived to inoculate the recruits.一队医生来给新兵打防疫针。
• I was just meant to come out here and inoculate some wee babies.我是过来这边给小孩子们接种疫苗的。

12 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。