2007年VOA标准英语-ICRC Concerned About Plight of Civilians in Som

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
11 January 2007

The International Committee of the Red Cross is calling for respect for international humanitarian¹ law in Somalia. It says it is deeply concerned about the plight² of the civilian³ population, the war wounded, and detainees as number of victims of the fighting in Somalia grows. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from ICRC headquarters in Geneva.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says a growing number of people are being killed and wounded from ongoing⁴ military operations in southern Somalia.

 
AC-130 gunships struck al-Qaeda targets in Somalia according to the US Air Force, 10 Jan 2007
ICRC Spokesman Vincent Lusser tells VOA the recent air strikes have created an additional element of danger in this conflict.

"We have had concerns about the people injured during these air strikes. And, the fact that they have taken place in an area, which is very, very inaccessible⁵ to humanitarian aid and which also is not near any medical structure," he said.

"And, those wounded in those areas have to walk up to-to be one or two days on the road to reach the nearest medical facility in ... the area," he continued.

Lusser says says livestock⁶ also were killed, dealing⁷ a serious blow to people who depend on cattle for their livelihood⁸.

He says more than 850 wounded people, civilians⁹ and fighters, have been admitted to Red Cross-run medical facilities since the outbreak of hostilities¹⁰ two weeks ago.

That was when Ethiopian troops, backed by the Somali transitional government, fought the Somalia Courts Union and chased them out of the capital Mogadishu.

 
Somali refugee children eating a portion of maize¹¹ provided by humanitarian agencies at Kenyan-Somali border point of Liboi, 6 Jan 2007
Lusser says everyone must respect international humanitarian law regarding civilians. But, he says the same rights must also be given to wounded fighters, regardless of who they are or what they have done. He says they must have assurances of safety once they are in a medical facility.

"Once people are injured and get treatment they should feel that they can stay in a medical facility without fear of possible harm," he said. "If there is no such trust, than people who are injured might not even come to these structures or they might leave before their treatment is over."

"And, it is really a very basic principle that in conflict situations, once people are no more fighting but are injured, they deserve the protection of the Geneva Conventions and the respect by all parties to the conflict," he added.

The Red Cross reports the situation of the civilian population in Somalia has sharply deteriorated¹² during the past few weeks, following a series of natural disasters and the heaviest fighting in a decade.

It says most people are dependent on humanitarian aid. It says the widespread shortages of essential items that existed before the recent outbreak of fighting have become worse.

1 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。

2 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

3 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 inaccessible   

adj.达不到的，难接近的

参考例句：

• This novel seems to me among the most inaccessible.这本书对我来说是最难懂的小说之一。
• The top of Mount Everest is the most inaccessible place in the world.珠穆朗玛峰是世界上最难到达的地方。

6 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

8 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。

9 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。

10 hostilities   

n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事

参考例句：

• Mexico called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. 墨西哥要求立即停止敌对行动。
• All the old hostilities resurfaced when they met again. 他们再次碰面时，过去的种种敌意又都冒了出来。

11 maize   

n.玉米

参考例句：

• There's a field planted with maize behind the house.房子后面有一块玉米地。
• We can grow sorghum or maize on this plot.这块地可以种高粱或玉米。

12 deteriorated   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Her health deteriorated rapidly, and she died shortly afterwards. 她的健康状况急剧恶化，不久便去世了。
• His condition steadily deteriorated. 他的病情恶化，日甚一日。