VOA标准英语2009年-IOM Helps Thousands of Afghan Returnees an

The International Organization for Migration¹ is running an 18-month project to help reintegrate thousands of returnees, internally displaced and other vulnerable groups in western Afghanistan. IOM says it is particularly critical to provide shelter and heating for tens of thousands of Afghans before the harsh winter sets in.
　
A young girl carries a baby at a camp for internally displaced people from Helmand province, on the outskirts² of Kabul, Afghanistan (File)

The reintegration project is focused on the provinces of Herat and Farah in Western Afghanistan, where hundreds of thousands of Afghan returnees and internally displaced people are living in precarious³ conditions.

Spokeswoman for the International Organization for Migration, Jemini Pandya, says the beneficiaries would include growing numbers of Afghan deportees from Iran. She notes Iran currently hosts some 900,000 registered and as many as one million unregistered Afghan workers.

"In 2007 and 2008, Iran deported⁴ nearly 800,000 Afghans, mainly through the Islam Qala and the Zaranj border crossing points on its eastern border with Afghanistan," said Pandya. "But, between January the 1st and the 22nd May this year, a further 166,000 people had been expelled, which is actually an increase of 42 percent in the same period from last year."

Since 2002, IOM reports another 4.3 million Afghan refugees have voluntarily returned to Afghanistan. Pandya says this large number of returnees has created acute housing shortages.

It also has over-stretched infrastructure⁵ in a country that has experienced decades of conflict, instability and economic stagnation⁶.

"About 85 percent of the average family income is now being used just to buy food to keep a family going," added Pandya. "And, high food prices and fuel prices, as well as drought have had a severe impact on the most vulnerable groups in Afghanistan, many of whom are also living in very poor and inadequate⁷ housing. The lack of housing is also a big issue, partly because of the years of conflict, which have not given us a clear idea of how many homes have actually been destroyed in Afghanistan or badly damaged. What is clear is that many people are living in very poor accommodations."

Pandya says this is exacerbating⁸ peoples' suffering during months of freezing temperatures during Afghanistan's harsh winters. She says a contribution of more than three million Euros from Italy will be used to provide winter kits⁹, including heating fuel to vulnerable families.

She says it also will pay for shelter for homeless families, clean water and training to upgrade skills for people without jobs.

1 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

2 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

3 precarious   

adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的

参考例句：

• Our financial situation had become precarious.我们的财务状况已变得不稳定了。
• He earned a precarious living as an artist.作为一个艺术家，他过得是朝不保夕的生活。

4 deported   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止

参考例句：

• They stripped me of my citizenship and deported me. 他们剥夺我的公民资格，将我驱逐出境。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The convicts were deported to a deserted island. 罪犯们被流放到一个荒岛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

6 stagnation   

n. 停滞

参考例句：

• Poor economic policies led to a long period of stagnation and decline. 糟糕的经济政策道致了长时间的经济萧条和下滑。
• Motion is absolute while stagnation is relative. 运动是绝对的，而静止是相对的。

7 inadequate   

adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的

参考例句：

• The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
• She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。

8 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

9 kits   

衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件

参考例句：

• Keep your kits closed and locked when not in use. 不用的话把你的装备都锁好放好。
• Gifts Articles, Toy and Games, Wooden Toys, Puzzles, Craft Kits. 采购产品礼品，玩具和游戏，木制的玩具，智力玩具，手艺装备。