VOA标准英语2009-Children, Women Hardest Hit by Collapse of Z

A new report by UNICEF and the Zimbabwean shows reduced access to key social services for the poorest women and children especially those in rural areas.

Ish Mafundikwa | Harare 25 November 2009

Children gather eggs at a rubbish dump in Mbare, a township southwest of Harare, Zimbabwe (file photo)

A new report by UNICEF and the Zimbabwean government reveals a worsening situation for women and children in Zimbabwe. The report shows reduced access to key social services for the poorest women and children especially those in rural areas. 

The report paints a bleak¹ picture of the situation faced by poor women and children in Zimbabwe.   Micaela Marques de Sousa, UNICEF Zimbabwe's chief of communications, says the report confirms what has been evident to observers for a long time.

"This report validates² through evidence based data the situation of children and women in Zimbabwe in terms of maternal³ mortality, infant mortality in terms of child health in terms of particularly the most vulnerable, the children themselves," said de Sousa.

Data from the report which is the result of a survey conducted in May shows a 20 percent increase in under five child mortality since 1990. This, says UNICEF, means that 100 children are dying every day. Most of the under fives succumb⁴ to HIV/AIDS, newborn disorders⁵, pneumonia⁶ and diarrhea. Children in rural areas and those in the poorest one fifth of the population are the most vulnerable, the report says.

The survey revealed stark⁷ disparities between the rich and poor saying the poor are hardest hit in terms of access to critical services in health and education.

The data also shows that 79 percent of orphans⁸ and vulnerable children are not receiving any form of external assistance. Further, around two-thirds of all children in the country do not possess birth certificates.

UNICEF says the survey is designed to provide policymakers with information they can use to make decisions on development priorities and budgets. In addition it provides data on Zimbabwe's progress in meeting international priorities like the so-called Millennium⁹ Development Goals.   UNICEF's de Sousa, however, says a lot is already being done to remedy the situation.

"It is important to not that there are a series of actions being taken already in order to mitigate¹⁰ the situation not only from the support that UNICEF provides directly to the government but the government itself," she said.

"With the inclusive government one of the key priorities of the government of Zimbabwe is to ensure that there is a revitalization of the basic social services; education health even water and sanitation¹¹ supplies," she added.

She, however, cautioned that it would take time and a lot of money. The publication of the report comes just before the announcement of the national budget next month. De Sousa hopes the government will use the findings of the survey to allocate¹² more funds to the rehabilitation¹³ of social services, which she said used to be amongst the best in Africa.

1 bleak   

adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的

参考例句：

• They showed me into a bleak waiting room.他们引我来到一间阴冷的会客室。
• The company's prospects look pretty bleak.这家公司的前景异常暗淡。

2 validates   

v.证实( validate的第三人称单数 )；确证；使生效；使有法律效力

参考例句：

• Other research validates that when it comes to chocolate, type does matter. 其他的研究也证实了不同种类的巧克力确实功效不同。 来自互联网
• Trouble shoots equipment, review and validates data and complete reports. 管理错误描述设备，审查并确认试验数据，完成试验报告。 来自互联网

3 maternal   

adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的

参考例句：

• He is my maternal uncle.他是我舅舅。
• The sight of the hopeless little boy aroused her maternal instincts.那个绝望的小男孩的模样唤起了她的母性。

4 succumb   

v.屈服，屈从；死

参考例句：

• They will never succumb to the enemies.他们决不向敌人屈服。
• Will business leaders succumb to these ideas?商业领袖们会被这些观点折服吗？

5 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 pneumonia   

n.肺炎

参考例句：

• Cage was struck with pneumonia in her youth.凯奇年轻时得过肺炎。
• Pneumonia carried him off last week.肺炎上星期夺去了他的生命。

7 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

8 orphans   

孤儿( orphan的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The poor orphans were kept on short commons. 贫苦的孤儿们吃不饱饭。
• Their uncle was declared guardian to the orphans. 这些孤儿的叔父成为他们的监护人。

9 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

10 mitigate   

vt.（使）减轻，（使）缓和

参考例句：

• The government is trying to mitigate the effects of inflation.政府正试图缓和通货膨胀的影响。
• Governments should endeavour to mitigate distress.政府应努力缓解贫困问题。

11 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

12 allocate   

vt.分配，分派；把…拨给；把…划归

参考例句：

• You must allocate the money carefully.你们必须谨慎地分配钱。
• They will allocate fund for housing.他们将拨出经费建房。

13 rehabilitation   

n.康复，悔过自新，修复，复兴，复职，复位

参考例句：

• He's booked himself into a rehabilitation clinic.他自己联系了一家康复诊所。
• No one can really make me rehabilitation of injuries.已经没有人可以真正令我的伤康复了。