VOA标准英语2009年-Humanitarian Situation in N. Yemen Worseni

U.N. aid agencies report the humanitarian¹ situation in Northern Yemen is worsening. They say fighting between Yemeni government forces and al Houthi rebels is continuing to escalate² and approximately 119,000 people have been displaced.
　
Displaced Yemenis clamour for information as a UNHCR worker explains the registration³ process at a school in Haradh, Aug 2009

U.N. aid agencies say insecurity in the conflict areas of Northern Yemen is making it very difficult for humanitarian workers to gain access to the needy⁴ population. They say it is difficult to obtain accurate information on the needs, the numbers and whereabouts of the displaced population.

They say the number of people who have been forced from their homes by fighting might be as high as 150,000.

U.N. refugee spokesman Andrej Mahecic says a dire⁵ and complex humanitarian emergency has worsened during the past few days. He says the UNHCR is particularly worried about the situation in Sa'ada city.

"UNHCR team in Sa'ada city reports there is not water and no electricity in the city since 10 August. There is also a shortage of fuel and it is becoming increasingly dangerous and hard for the people to reach the market and get food," said Mahecic. "Our staff on the ground had registered some 700 newly displaced families over the past two weeks. However, registration has been suspended due to the security situation inside the city and the 24 hour curfew."

Mahecic says the UNHCR is working with local authorities and other partners in building a new camp.

He says his agency distributed tents, plastic sheeting, blankets and jerry cans to some 6,000 people Monday and more relief items are expected to arrive in the area later in the week.

U.N. Children's Fund spokeswoman Miranda Eeles says, as in all conflicts, children and women are most affected⁶ by the escalation⁷ of fighting.

"With 73 children out of 1,000 live births dying before their 5th anniversary, Yemen has one of the highest under-five mortality rates in the Middle East and North Africa region," she said. "Malnutrition⁸ rates are also high, with 46 percent of under fives underweight and 53 percent suffering from stunting⁹. So, as you can see, the conflict is exacerbating¹⁰ an already difficult situation for children in Yemen," she added.

The Sa'ada airport is closed, except for military operations and the United Nations says travel between the Yemeni capital San'a and Sa'ada is hampered¹¹ by insecurity and road blocks.

The government recently announced it is considering establishing humanitarian corridors so aid agencies can bring relief supplies to the inaccessible¹² conflict zones.

The United Nations has released from its emergency fund $1.2 million to Yemen. It plans to issue a much larger emergency appeal in the coming days.

1 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。

2 escalate   

v.(使)逐步增长(或发展)，(使)逐步升级

参考例句：

• It would tempt Israel's neighbors to escalate their demands.它将诱使以色列的邻国不断把他们的要求升级。
• Defeat could cause one side or other to escalate the conflict.失败可能会导致其中一方将冲突升级。

3 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

4 needy   

adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的

参考例句：

• Although he was poor,he was quite generous to his needy friends.他虽穷，但对贫苦的朋友很慷慨。
• They awarded scholarships to needy students.他们给贫苦学生颁发奖学金。

5 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

7 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

8 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。

9 stunting   

v.阻碍…发育[生长]，抑制，妨碍( stunt的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Objective To report three-year-old twin brothers with speech stunting. 目的报道孪生兄弟同患语言发育迟缓的临床结果。 来自互联网
• No one should talk while stunting except coach or back spotter. 在技巧进行的过程中，只有教练或后保能说话。 来自互联网

10 exacerbating   

v.使恶化，使加重( exacerbate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• This pedagogical understretch is exacerbating social inequalities. 这种教学张力不足加重了社会不平等。 来自互联网
• High fertilizer prices are exacerbating the problem. 高涨的肥料价格更加加剧了问题的恶化。 来自互联网

11 hampered   

妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions. 恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
• So thought every harassed, hampered, respectable boy in St. Petersburg. 圣彼德堡镇的那些受折磨、受拘束的体面孩子们个个都是这么想的。

12 inaccessible   

adj.达不到的，难接近的

参考例句：

• This novel seems to me among the most inaccessible.这本书对我来说是最难懂的小说之一。
• The top of Mount Everest is the most inaccessible place in the world.珠穆朗玛峰是世界上最难到达的地方。