VOA标准英语2010年-US Haiti Relief Effort in Transition t

US Army special forces Lt. General Kenneth Keen (L) chats with a refugee family in a makeshift shelter camp near the Presidential palace in Port-au-Prince (File)

The commander of U.S. military relief efforts in Haiti said Wednesday that the operation is becoming more civilian² and more Haitian, but that there is still an important role for his troops in the earthquake-ravaged country.

Speaking via satellite from Port-au-Prince, Army Lieutenant³ General Ken¹ Keen said the number of U.S. troops in Haiti and on ships nearby is down from a peak of 20,000 to 13,000 today -- about half of them on shore.

The general said he has been able to release thousands of troops because the Haitian government and foreign civilian aid organizations are now able to do more.

"As we see this transition occurring, we see our civilian partners increase their capabilities⁴ -- both the government here in Haiti as well as the non-government organizations -- we see the need for our military assistance dwindling," said Keen.  "However, at the present time, there is still great need across the board.  And we still remain decisively engaged providing critical assistance," he said.

Keen also said the need for medical services is less than had been expected.  He noted⁵ that U.S. troops continue to help with food distribution, and provide engineering and logistical support to Haitian and international efforts.  He reported that priorities are shifting to providing shelter for Haitians who were made homeless by last month's earthquake, and removing the rubble⁶ that blocks reconstruction⁷.

The general also commented on a story in Wednesday's Washington Post newspaper that said some of the skills U.S. troops learned during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have come in handy in the Haiti relief operation.

"The experiences that they have gained in other places in the world and the counterinsurgency doctrine⁸ in terms of how you interact with the local population, how you work with civic⁹ leaders as well as religious leaders, and understanding the cultural dynamics¹⁰ on the ground are critical in any mission, and certainly in the humanitarian¹¹ assistance missions we see," he said.

General Keen said the price tag for U.S. government post-earthquake assistance to Haiti is approaching $250 million.  He noted that Washington continues to provide whatever assets he needs to carryout relief efforts.

 

1 ken   

n.视野，知识领域

参考例句：

• Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
• Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.

2 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

3 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。

4 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 rubble   

n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾

参考例句：

• After the earthquake,it took months to clean up the rubble.地震后，花了数月才清理完瓦砾。
• After the war many cities were full of rubble.战后许多城市到处可见颓垣残壁。

7 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

8 doctrine   

n.教义；主义；学说

参考例句：

• He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。
• The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。

9 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

10 dynamics   

n.力学，动力学，动力，原动力；动态

参考例句：

• In order to succeed,you must master complicated knowledge of dynamics.要取得胜利，你必须掌握很复杂的动力学知识。
• Dynamics is a discipline that cannot be mastered without extensive practice.动力学是一门不做大量习题就不能掌握的学科。

11 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。