VOA常速英语2008年-Bombing in West Darfur Forces UNHCR to Withdraw

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
19 February 2008

The U.N. refugee agency says an aerial bombing overnight and Tuesday morning in West Darfur, Sudan, close to the border with Chad, has forced the agency to withdraw its team. The aid workers were caring for newly arrived refugees in the Birak area in Chad, which is close to the insecure border. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.

The UNHCR says it learned about the attack from seven refugees who crossed the border from West Darfur into Chad Monday evening. It says the refugees were carrying a 55-year-old woman who had lost both her legs during an alleged¹ overnight bombing.

U.N. refugee spokeswoman, Jennifer Pagonis, says the refugees reported the Aro Sharow camp for internally displaced people, north of Jebel Moon in West Darfur, was attacked. She says the woman later died.

"The refugees said more people would now be fleeing to Chad," said Pagonis. "We have no confirmation² or further details of the alleged bombing raid but bombings could be heard from Birak.

"This highlights the extremely vulnerable situation of the refugees and of the humanitarian³ workers who are helping⁴ them. For protection and security the refugees need to urgently be moved away from the border. We are still discussing the transfer to existing camps near Guereda with the Chadian authorities," she added. 

A new influx⁵ of refugees into eastern Chad began February 8 following deadly attacks by the Sudanese-backed janjaweed militia⁶ in West Darfur. Since then, the UNHCR reports about 10,000 Sudanese refugees have arrived in Chad. Aid workers on the ground say more arrivals are expected as well as more displacement⁷ in West Darfur because of the bombing.

Last week, the UNHCR tried to move thousands of Sudanese refugees away from the insecure border to safer camps inside Chad, but unarmed gunmen blocked these efforts.

Pagonis says both the refugees and humanitarian workers at the border are in a vulnerable situation.

"There are unknown, armed men roaming around this area," said Pagonis. "We do not necessarily know who these people are. We have called on the government of Chad to provide more security for humanitarian workers. It is a difficult situation for everybody. And, this is now being complicated by having the situation where we have heard of these bombings this morning."

Pagonis says the aid workers who were forced to leave Birak will return as soon as the situation calms down.

In the meantime, on the Chadian side of the border, the UNHCR Spokeswoman says humanitarian organizations have carried out a one-off distribution of supplies to the refugees who are waiting to be transferred to camps further inland. These include blankets, plastic sheets, jerrycans, mats and soap.

She says high-energy plumpynut supplies were given for malnourished children. She says water supply is difficult at the border and some refugees have to walk several hours a day to find water.

1 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

2 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

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 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。

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 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

7 displacement   

n.移置，取代，位移，排水量

参考例句：

• They said that time is the feeling of spatial displacement.他们说时间是空间位移的感觉。
• The displacement of all my energy into caring for the baby.我所有精力都放在了照顾宝宝上。