VOA标准英语2011--Crumbling Infrastructure Slows Iraqi Growth

Crumbling¹ Infrastructure² Slows Iraqi Growth

As the U.S. military leaves Iraq after more than eight years of war, the country's weakened infrastructure struggles to provide daily needs. Despite billions of dollars set aside for reconstruction³, Iraqis interviewed at several locations say they still cannot rely on public services.

Baghdad is a noisy, crowded city. And despite years of turmoil⁴, new restaurants and shops are opening.

But it is also a city that struggles to function, much like the rest of the country.

Razor wire and concrete blast walls are slowly becoming a thing of the past.

But nearly nine years of war, and earlier years of international sanctions, have left many Iraqis without steady, basic services.

There is seldom enough electricity and power outages are common, unless residents can connect to nearby generators⁵.

Fish seller Jaafar Abdul Hamza says life is difficult. “We are suffering from a lot of things. Security is better, but we suffer from a lack of electricity and water,” Hamza said.

Medical services are especially lacking, even at Ghazy al-Hariri Hospital, one of Baghdad's best.

Patient Khalis Hussein, says he suffers more from hospital conditions than he does from his kidney failure. “Doctors are good, and so is the medical staff. But there is a lack of services, the elevators do not work and the stairs are locked," Hussein said.

Still, trauma⁶ surgeon Ahmed Saleh says things have improved since the mass terrorist bombing casualties of five years ago.

“The situation changed dramatically in the last two years, when the attacks decreased. We receive nowadays just road traffic accidents. We still receive trauma patients due to bullets, missiles, a few attacks for explosions, but not the big explosions like 2005, 2006,” Saleh said.

Today there are fewer bomb victims, but the lack of experienced doctors is a problem.

“We got all the supplies that we need, but we need training, we need outside training, from United States, United Kingdom to improve our work. We have got the experience, but we do not know how to use it,” Saleh said.

At home, Iraqis like English teacher Wameedh Refaat blame the government for the lack of services. “There is no reconstruction in the country, and I do not see anything that is being provided for the interest of my children's future,” Refaat said.

There has been some rebuilding - just not as much as many Iraqis expected from billions of dollars in international aid.

1 crumbling   

adj.摇摇欲坠的

参考例句：

• an old house with crumbling plaster and a leaking roof 一所灰泥剥落、屋顶漏水的老房子
• The boat was tied up alongside a crumbling limestone jetty. 这条船停泊在一个摇摇欲坠的石灰岩码头边。

2 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。

3 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。

4 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

5 generators   

n.发电机，发生器( generator的名词复数 )；电力公司

参考例句：

• The factory's emergency generators were used during the power cut. 工厂应急发电机在停电期间用上了。
• Power can be fed from wind generators into the electricity grid system. 电力可以从风力发电机流入输电网。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。