VOA标准英语2010年-Reporter's Notebook: Mogadishu

After repelling¹ the Ramadan offensive launched by al Qaida-linked force al-Shabab, AMISOM forces in Mogadishu have been able to exploit rifts² within the insurgent³ group and gain ground throughout the city. AMISOM officials believe that with an additional 20,000 troops it can recapture most of southern Somalia.

A flight from Nairobi takes just more than an hour, but Mogadishu is really a world away.? On arrival at the oceanside airport, off to the side of the runway visitors see a rusty⁴ Russian cargo⁵ plane that was shot down in 2008; its left wing dangling⁶ precariously⁷ from its body.

The AMISOM base is a surprisingly safe haven⁸ sitting on the fringe of the world's most dangerous city. Not long ago, mortars⁹ would regularly land within the compound, but since the end of Ramadan, soldiers are able to walk without the protection of flak-jackets and helmets, and the mood is relatively¹⁰ relaxed.

In the city is an entirely¹¹ different reality. Travel for the AMISOM force is only possible with Armored Personnel Carriers.

Traveling with an AU convoy¹² through the streets, bustling¹³ centers of activity appeared that were reminiscent of any market in Africa. In other parts of the city, along the front lines of fighting, huge abandoned hotels line the streets, providing neither relaxation¹⁴ nor shelter.

The convoy's first stop was the former Hotel Uruba, overlooking the Indian Ocean, where an Ugandan detachment is based. Visible through the building's shattered walls is the Old Port of Mogadishu. The Ancient Islamic fort guarding the harbor is pockmarked from years of shelling. Just below in a small bay, fisherman can be seen bringing in their catch, often fillets of the sharks that patrol the Somali coast.

At Uruba, Lieutenant¹⁵ Colonel Francis Chemonges explained how Mogadishu's once highly developed cityscape is providing problems today.

"This place is a built-up place that needs so many soldiers," said Chemonges. "Taking over just one building means a lot. It takes a lot of effort and needs a lot of manpower to occupy, of course. The whole of Mogadishu needs over 16,000 soldiers or 20,000. Something like that."

The AMISOM force numbers around 8,000, but has managed to take new parts of the city in recent months. Because of AMISOM's recent advances, VOA was able to visit areas not seen by journalists since the city was overrun by insurgent forces years ago.

The city is quieter than it has been in quite a while, but fighting continues as AMISOM troops work to maintain their recent advances.

AMISOM soldiers exchanged fire with Shabab snipers just a block or two away. Along the streets, some civilians¹⁶ could be seen running for shelter or perhaps a better vantage point to observe the action.

After a day's ride around the city it is apparent AMISOM controls significantly more than a few blocks, as has been reported. But such revelations do not hide the fact that many areas are still completely off-limits for the international troops.

The Bakara Market is the most famous and significant of these. Bakara is the commercial hub of Mogadishu, and is controlled completely by al-Shabab. The group uses positions among civilians to launch mortars at AMISOM forces.

Without any presence in the neighborhood, AMISOM troops are forced to simply launch mortars straight back. This shelling has killed many civilians, and brought AMISOM heavy criticism.

The commander in the El-Hindi neighborhood, one of the newest position's taken by AMISOM soldiers, Major David Matua repeated what has become a mantra for the force - with more troops, they could take the city. But he also explained that advancing from El-Hindi meant closing in on Bakara.

"We began about 300 meters away from here, but now we are down in the valley, where the enemy is holed up, to remove him bit by bit until he gets out of the valley," said Matua. "Then, we hope, that will be the way to Bakara."

The multi-national force does more than fight. The only hospital operating in Mogadishu is in the AMISOM base, where Ugandan and Burundian soldiers often see hundreds of Mogadishu's residents in a given day.

Force Medical Officer Dr. James Kiyengo explains the expanding area of AMISOM control has strained the capacity of the medical unit.

"The bigger crisis that is recent is that, as the area of operation widens and the area of responsibility for the UN and African Union widens, then the civilians that are in that area are also increasing," said Dr. Kiyengo. "So that means that even the medical services are getting loaded a little more because there are more civilians in the secure areas."

As evidenced by the fighting in Mogadishu's streets, AMISOM soldiers have the will to challenge Shabab forces. What remains¹⁷ to be seen is whether or not the extra 20,000 troops pledged by Uganda will receive funding from the African Union or the international community.
 

1 repelling   

v.击退( repel的现在分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开

参考例句：

• He saw himself standing up and repelling a charge. 他仿佛看见自己挺身而起，打退了敌人的进攻。 来自辞典例句
• Promote the healthy entertainment styles. Repelling the superstition, gambling, drugs and obscenity. 提倡健康娱乐。抵制封建迷信活动，拒绝黄、赌、毒。 来自互联网

2 rifts   

n.裂缝( rift的名词复数 )；裂隙；分裂；不和

参考例句：

• After that, through the rifts in the inky clouds sparkled redder and yet more luminous particles. 然后在几条墨蓝色云霞的隙缝里闪出几个更红更亮的小片。 来自汉英文学 - 现代散文
• The Destinies mend rifts in time as man etches fate. 当人类想要再次亵渎命运的时候，命运及时修正了这些裂痕。 来自互联网

3 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

4 rusty   

adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的

参考例句：

• The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。
• I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用，我的法语又荒疏了。

5 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

6 dangling   

悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口

参考例句：

• The tooth hung dangling by the bedpost, now. 结果，那颗牙就晃来晃去吊在床柱上了。
• The children sat on the high wall,their legs dangling. 孩子们坐在一堵高墙上，摇晃着他们的双腿。

7 precariously   

adv.不安全地；危险地；碰机会地；不稳定地

参考例句：

• The hotel was perched precariously on a steep hillside. 旅馆危险地坐落在陡峭的山坡上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The phone was perched precariously on the window ledge. 电话放在窗台上，摇摇欲坠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

9 mortars   

n.迫击炮( mortar的名词复数 )；砂浆；房产；研钵

参考例句：

• They could not move their heavy mortars over the swampy ground. 他们无法把重型迫击炮移过那片沼泽地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Where the hell are his mortars? 他有迫击炮吗？ 来自教父部分

10 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

11 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

12 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

13 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。

14 relaxation   

n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐

参考例句：

• The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

15 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

16 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

17 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。