VOA常速英语2007年-Red Cross Distributes Aid to Thousands Displace

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
29 December 2007

The International Committee of the Red Cross has begun distributing essential items to more than 500 displaced families who have taken refuge in South Kivu in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Red Cross says these people have fled fighting in north Kivu Province and are particularly vulnerable as few have any place to live. Lisa Schlein reports from ICRC headquarters in Geneva.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says the intensity¹ of fighting between Congolese government forces and renegade troops in North Kivu has lessened² in recent days. But it says fighting continues and the humanitarian³ crisis is spilling over into neighboring South Kivu province.

In recent weeks, an estimated 500 families - or more than 2,500 people - have taken refuge in South Kivu. Red Cross spokeswoman Anna Schaaf says the new arrivals are even more vulnerable than the previous wave of displaced people.

She told VOA these people had to flee in a hurry and were not able to take even the most basic items from their huts.

"So, they really have just fled with the clothes they were wearing and that is all," she said. "And some of them are really in a bad health state as well because they have been on the road now for a few days. They did not find enough food. Some of them are ill and need medical treatment and lots of them are women and children who are very, very tired now and need some medical assistance."

The International Committee of the Red Cross describes the situation as critical. Schaaf says South Kivu is teeming⁴ with thousands of people who have fled previous armed clashes in North Kivu.

She says local residents, who are overwhelmed by this new influx⁵, are unable to extend a helping⁶ hand to the newcomers, many of whom are pregnant women and children.

"The residents in the area have already taken in lots of other displaced in the last weeks and are now really stretched to the limits and they are not able anymore to take in anyone else." said Schaaf. "So, these recent arrivals are even worse off than those who arrived a few weeks ago because they do not even find a shelter or find a place to stay even for a few days."

The International Committee of the Red Cross is distributing basic household items, mats and jerry cans to the displaced. The World Food Program is delivering food parcels.

Schaaf says the Red Cross also is supplying the local hospital with kits⁷ for the treatment of war-wounded and basic medicines, in particular those required to treat rape⁸ victims.

1 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

2 lessened   

减少的，减弱的

参考例句：

• Listening to the speech through an interpreter lessened its impact somewhat. 演讲辞通过翻译的嘴说出来，多少削弱了演讲的力量。
• The flight to suburbia lessened the number of middle-class families living within the city. 随着迁往郊外的风行，住在城内的中产家庭减少了。

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 teeming   

adj.丰富的v.充满( teem的现在分词 )；到处都是；（指水、雨等）暴降；倾注

参考例句：

• The rain was teeming down. 大雨倾盆而下。
• the teeming streets of the city 熙熙攘攘的城市街道

5 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。

6 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。

7 kits   

衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件

参考例句：

• Keep your kits closed and locked when not in use. 不用的话把你的装备都锁好放好。
• Gifts Articles, Toy and Games, Wooden Toys, Puzzles, Craft Kits. 采购产品礼品，玩具和游戏，木制的玩具，智力玩具，手艺装备。

8 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。