VOA常速英语2007年-Report: Iraqis Who Worked for Britain Denied Re

By Tendai Maphosa
London
12 December 2007

The British government is being accused of reneging on a promise to help former Iraqi employees move to the United Kingdom. From London, Tendai Maphosa has more in this report for VOA.

The accusation¹ appeared in a story Wednesday in the Times of London newspaper. The report says 125 of 200 interpreters who took up the offer to relocate to Britain were, in the end, turned down.  The Times cites three cases where former employees were told they were ineligible², because of absenteeism on the job.

The Iraqis, however, claim that when they failed to report for work it was because they feared for their lives. They say they are living in fear of reprisal³ from Shi'ite militias⁴ for having worked for the British government.

Britain's Ministry⁵ of Defense⁶, in a written statement to VOA, denied it is reneging on its policy of assistance. It said the ministry fully⁷ recognizes the difficulties of those not able to work because of intimidation⁸. The ministry's decisions, the statement added, are based on records taken at the time.  It said cases would be reconsidered should individuals provide further evidence to support their case.  

But Peter Kessler of the United Nations High Commissioner⁹ for Refugees, the UNHCR, said Britain and other countries are not responding to the plight¹⁰ of Iraqis under threat with the urgency their cases deserve.

"The biggest problem we are facing globally is that many countries are moving very slowly to take up Iraqi refugees who need urgent resettlement from the region. All countries have an urgent responsibility to act speedily to try to move refugees from the Middle East region if they are facing threats," he said.

Kessler added that there is pressure on the British government resulting from media coverage¹¹ that has demonized refugees and made some communities wary¹² of an influx¹³.

In August, Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised the government would fulfill¹⁴ its "duty of care" to those who had served with British troops. Foreign Secretary David Milliband, The Times says, also announced a resettlement scheme for Iraqi refugees.

The 200 interpreters are among 600 Iraqis who worked for the British in Iraq and have applied¹⁵ to come to Britain. The Times report says Members of Parliament have asked the government to reconsider the applications.

1 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。

2 ineligible   

adj.无资格的，不适当的

参考例句：

• The new rules have made thousands more people ineligible for legal aid.新规定使另外数千人不符合接受法律援助的资格。
• The country had been declared ineligible for World Bank lending.这个国家已被宣布没有资格获得世界银行的贷款。

3 reprisal   

n.报复，报仇，报复性劫掠

参考例句：

• There is no political alternative but a big reprisal.政治上没有旁的选择只能是大规模报复。
• They bombed civilian targets in reprisal.他们炮轰平民目标作为报复。

4 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

5 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。

6 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

7 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

8 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

9 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。

10 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。

11 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

12 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

13 influx   

n.流入，注入

参考例句：

• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
• Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施，因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。

14 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。

15 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。