VOA常速英语2008年-Sudanese Refugees Continue to Flee Attacks in W

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
26 February 2008

The U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports more Sudanese refugees have arrived in eastern Chad, following renewed attacks on Jebel Moun in West Darfur.  The UNHCR says it is difficult to estimate how many people have crossed, but it notes the refugees are mostly women, children and the elderly. Lisa Schlein reports from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.

The U.N. refugee agency says it is difficult to know how many refugees have crossed from West Darfur into eastern Chad in recent days because they are scattered¹ in several villages. 

An estimated 10,000 refugees fled to Chad following the Sudanese government's February 8 bombardment of several villages in West Darfur. 

UNHCR Spokesman, William Spindler, says more people have been fleeing to eastern Chad since Friday, when armed militiamen burned a number of villages.

"The latest arrivals are mainly women, children and elderly people and they are extremely traumatized," he said.  "Our team noticed that refugees who were right at the border a week ago have moved further to safer areas into Chad, away from the volatile² border.  Even though some refugees have briefly³ gone to their homes over the border to collect a few belongings⁴, they said they do not want to return to Darfur at this stage."

Spindler says new arrivals in the Chadian towns of Birak and Seinat report bombardments and attacks have taken place near camps for internally displaced people and villages in Darfur. 

He says wounded people who have arrived in Chad are transported to health centers in Birak.  He says refugees recount tales of cruelty, and aid workers have reported several cases of sexual violence and abuse by militiamen against girls and women.

"The vast majority of the new refugees in Chad had already been displaced once or twice in West Darfur since 2003 and are very traumatized by the recent attacks," he added.  "All of them fear going back to Darfur and have asked to be moved further inland to Chad, as they do not feel safe near the border.  Furthermore, refugees are suffering from exposure to the harsh weather, living in the open, with cold winds affecting especially children and the elderly.  Two refugee women and two children died last night because of the cold temperatures.  They were among the latest arrivals from Jebel Moun."

Meanwhile, the UNHCR reports a new campsite has been opened in West Darfur to accommodate up to 6,000 internally displaced persons. 

It is located about two kilometers from El Geneina, the capital city of West Darfur State.

Spindler says the first group of about 500 people will arrive at the new site on Wednesday.  They were displaced from Armankul village following violence in the area two weeks ago.

1 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

2 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

3 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

4 belongings   

n.私人物品，私人财物

参考例句：

• I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
• Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。