2006年VOA标准英语-World Refugee Day Explores Theme of Hope

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
20 June 2006

The UN Refugee Agency says people who flee persecution¹ are forced to leave behind their most precious relationships and belongings². But, the UNHCR says the one thing all refugees carry with them is the hope that they can return home one day. The UNHCR has chosen the theme of hope to mark this year's World Refugee Day.

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Somalis displaced by the drought and war have set up a makeshift camp on the outskirts³ of Wajid town in southern Somalia  
  

World Refugee Day is a day of celebration for millions of refugees who have had their hopes fulfilled. The UN refugee agency reports over the past four years, an estimated six million refugees have gone home. This brings the number of refugees worldwide to 8.4 million, its lowest level in 26 years.

But, along with the good news, comes the bad. As more refugees are returning home, the UNHCR reports increasing numbers of people are becoming refugees within their own countries. It says civil wars have caused up to 25 million people to become internally displaced (IDP).

UN Deputy High Commissioner⁴ for Refugees, Wendy Chamberlain, says IDP's are not entitled to the same protection and care as refugees, who are people that cross international borders. She says these people fall in between the cracks of international attention and assistance.

Afghan refugees  
  
"They are in places that are very troubled. Very difficult to access. Security is bad," said Chamberlain. "Places like Darfur, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Colombia, Nepal, Liberia-places that are not in the news every single day, but where people are displaced, are not able to go home and we need to be able to help them, help them have hope that they will go home.

Chamberlain tells VOA it is one thing to help refugees return home. It is quite another to keep them home. She says more often than not, refugees return to villages that have been burnt to the ground. She says they return to places that have no jobs, no schools for their children, no clean water and sanitation⁵.

The deputy commissioner says returning refugees need international assistance to help them rebuild their lives once the conflict is over.

"It is not simply a matter of sending people home. It is a matter of finding durable⁶ solutions-putting into place those elements that are going to enable the family to stay there, to stay at home and rebuild their lives," Chamberlain said. "And, if we do not, one of two things happen. Either they decide not to return home, or they return home and worse, cannot make it and flee again. And, that is a double tragedy that we wish to avoid.

The UN Development Program finds half of all countries emerging from conflict slip back into violence within five years. The UN refugee agency says this grim fact underscores the need for the international community to remain engaged in helping⁷ nations emerging from war.

1 persecution   

n. 迫害,烦扰

参考例句：

• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
• Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。

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 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

4 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

5 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。

6 durable   

adj.持久的，耐久的

参考例句：

• This raincoat is made of very durable material.这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
• They frequently require more major durable purchases.他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。