voa标准英语2008-UNICEF Calls for End to Forced Recruitment of Ch

The United Nations Children's Fund is calling for a halt to the forced recruitment of child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It says all warring parties in North Kivu Province forcibly recruit children into their armies. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.

The U.N. Children's Fund said fighting between government and rebel groups in North Kivu is putting children at risk of abuse and exploitation. It said children displaced by the war are particularly vulnerable.

UNICEF spokeswoman Miranda Eeles said the forcible recruitment of children as soldiers is widespread throughout the region and is on the rise. She said this week UNICEF received unconfirmed reports that five children in Kitchanga were recruited.
　

A Congolese boy, an ex-rebel, sits in a center for demobilized war children in North Kivu Province, (2006 file photo)

"The recruitment of many children appears to be continuing amongst all the armed groups in North Kivu. UNICEF calls on all armed groups to immediately stop recruiting children and to release all children in their ranks," she said. "The recruitment of children is a war crime and commanders will be held accountable against international standards."

War in the eastern DRC has been raging for more than a decade between the Congolese government and various rebel groups. Human rights organizations estimate more than five million people have died, mostly from preventable disease and malnutrition¹. Hundreds of thousands of people have been made homeless.

Since the latest flare-up of fighting in August, more than one-quarter of a million people have been displaced. UNICEF said children who flee their homes are often separated from their families and left unprotected.
　

Children plead with aid workers to get coupons2 that will allow them to receive high energy biscuits at a displaced people's camp, in Kibati, eastern Congo, 04 Nov 2008

Eeles said displaced children in North Kivu are at risk of acute diarrhea and measles³. She said many children are malnourished.

She said schools traditionally are seen as zones of safety and comfort for children. But, in North Kivu, she said schools no longer play this role.

"Unfortunately, 85 percent of schools in Rutshuru territory still remain closed to around 150,000 students ... Also, in addition to this, even if the schools were open, we are finding that parents are still afraid to send their children to school due to killings⁴, disappearances⁵ and then, of course, schools seem to be a target for forced recruitment," Eeles said.

UNICEF is calling for all armed groups to create a safe environment so schools can re-open and children can peacefully resume their studies.

1 malnutrition   

n.营养不良

参考例句：

• In Africa, there are a lot of children suffering from severe malnutrition.在非洲有大批严重营养不良的孩子。
• It is a classic case of malnutrition. 这是营养不良的典型病例。

2 coupons   

n.礼券( coupon的名词复数 )；优惠券；订货单；参赛表

参考例句：

• The company gives away free coupons for drinks or other items. 公司为饮料或其它项目发放免费赠券。 来自辞典例句
• Do you have any coupons? 你们有优惠卡吗？ 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 口语

3 measles   

n.麻疹，风疹，包虫病，痧子

参考例句：

• The doctor is quite definite about Tom having measles.医生十分肯定汤姆得了麻疹。
• The doctor told her to watch out for symptoms of measles.医生叫她注意麻疹出现的症状。

4 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

5 disappearances   

n.消失( disappearance的名词复数 )；丢失；失踪；失踪案

参考例句：

• Most disappearances are the result of the terrorist activity. 大多数的失踪案都是恐怖分子造成的。 来自辞典例句
• The espionage, the betrayals, the arrests, the tortures, the executions, the disappearances will never cease. 间谍活动、叛党卖国、逮捕拷打、处决灭迹，这种事情永远不会完。 来自英汉文学