2006年VOA标准英语-ICRC Warns of Increased Violence in Palest

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
10 April 2006

The International Committee of the Red Cross warns of a social breakdown¹ and increased violence in the Palestinian territories, if governments withhold² funds and assistance from the Palestinian Authority.  The head of ICRC operations says humanitarian³ organizations cannot replace the Palestinian Authority as providers of public services. 

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Palestinians in Gaza   
  

The International Committee of the Red Cross says Palestinians are living under extreme hardship.  It warns the situation will get even worse if the Palestinian Authority is unable to pay the salaries of its civil servants, maintain law and order and provide social services.

The director of Red Cross operations, Pierre Kraehenbuhl, tells VOA his organization is ready to step up aid activities to respond to the newer and growing needs of the Palestinian people.  But, he says, neither the Red Cross nor any other humanitarian organization can replace the public functions and services of the Palestinian Authority.

"Providing support to humanitarian organizations in this phase, while very welcome, is not going to help address the range of problems that could arise from the breakdown of a public administration, as the Palestinian Authority is, because we do not have the range of activities that an administration would normally fulfill⁴.  Therefore, humanitarian organizations are not sort of the magic formula to address the range of problems that may be emerging, that we may be confronting in weeks and months ahead," Kraehenbuhl says.

The United States and European Union have decided⁵ to cut nearly a billion dollars in annual aid to the Palestinian Authority, until the Hamas-led government meets certain conditions.  They are calling on Hamas to recognize Israel, renounce⁶ violence and accept past peace agreements.

Israel also has suspended the transfer of $50 million in tax revenues it collects for the Palestinians, until Hamas changes its hostile position.

Both Washington and the European Union say they will continue to support the Palestinian people, and channel aid to them through humanitarian organizations.  

Kraehenbuhl says the consequences of withholding⁷ funds from the Palestinian Authority could be devastating⁸.

"It is not excessively alarmist to believe that this kind of situation could lead to more violence ... because of a lack of capacity of the Palestinian Authority to fulfill its role, a possible breakdown of law and order that could ensue and therefore an environment  in which insecurity grows again," Kraehenbuhl says. "And, then, well obviously, the frustration⁹ and the hardship felt by the population could reach again another level, and that could deteriorate¹⁰ further.  So, I think there are reasons to be worried about that."

Kraehenbuhl says Israeli officials have assured him they would take measures to prevent a humanitarian crisis. 

1 breakdown   

n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌

参考例句：

• She suffered a nervous breakdown.她患神经衰弱。
• The plane had a breakdown in the air,but it was fortunately removed by the ace pilot.飞机在空中发生了故障，但幸运的是被王牌驾驶员排除了。

2 withhold   

v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡

参考例句：

• It was unscrupulous of their lawyer to withhold evidence.他们的律师隐瞒证据是不道德的。
• I couldn't withhold giving some loose to my indignation.我忍不住要发泄一点我的愤怒。

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 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。

7 withholding   

扣缴税款

参考例句：

• She was accused of withholding information from the police. 她被指控对警方知情不报。
• The judge suspected the witness was withholding information. 法官怀疑见证人在隐瞒情况。

8 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

9 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

10 deteriorate   

v.变坏；恶化；退化

参考例句：

• Do you think relations between China and Japan will continue to deteriorate?你认为中日关系会继续恶化吗？
• He held that this would only cause the situation to deteriorate further.他认为，这只会使局势更加恶化。