VOA标准英语2012--Syrian Refugees Watch Violence Unfold from Border Camp

 

Syrian Refugees Watch Violence Unfold from Border Camp

Syrian helicopters buzz rebel-held territory - occasionally firing rockets that raise plumes¹ of smoke. Army snipers holed up in a minaret² take aim at anyone trying to flee Syria.

Kilis refugee camp in Turkey is at the border. The Syrian flag flies just a few hundred meters from the revolutionary colors hoisted³ above the camp.

Syrian government forces occasionally fire through the perimeter⁴ fence. Two people were killed and 23 wounded during such an attack in April. One refugee points to the bullet holes in the walls and windows of his cabin.

"My cousin was injured in the attack," he said. "He was shot in the hip… he is still in hospital."

A concrete wall has since been built to offer some protection. It is now a canvas for anti-Assad graffiti.

Another man shows us scars he says are from being tortured in a Syria jail. He is now a fighter with the Free Syrian Army.

Twenty-seven thousand refugees have crossed from Syria; 11,500 live in this camp, which is now full. Hope that the conflict may end soon is waning⁵.

Clinics provide urgent and ongoing⁶ medical care for the hundreds of injured and sick.

There are two mosques⁷, general stores, a laundry - all lend an air of permanence to the camp.

Fumigator⁸ trucks make an attempt to tackle the flies.

Despite some complaints, the refugees say they are grateful to the Turkish government for offering them shelter. Their anger is directed at Syria's allies like Russia who they blame for arming President Assad's forces.

One elderly man says countries like Iran and Russia and Venezuela are supporting the Assad regime. "This is a criminal regime," he said. "We need the rest of the world to make themselves the friends of the Syrian people, to support the FSA and support democracy - not just in words but actions."

Another man asks why the United States is ignoring the Syrians. "Why doesn't the United States stop Russia killing⁹ in Syria?" he said.

For the refugees at Kilis, the complexities¹⁰ of international politics mean little. They have front row seats as the killing continues just over the border. 

1 plumes   

羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物

参考例句：

• The dancer wore a headdress of pink ostrich plumes. 那位舞蹈演员戴着粉色鸵鸟毛制作的头饰。
• The plumes on her bonnet barely moved as she nodded. 她点点头，那帽子的羽毛在一个劲儿颤动。

2 minaret   

n.（回教寺院的）尖塔

参考例句：

• The minaret is 65 meters high,the second highest in the world.光塔高65米，高度位居世界第二。
• It stands on a high marble plinth with a minaret at each corner.整个建筑建立在一个高大的大理石底座上，每个角上都有一个尖塔。

3 hoisted   

把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He hoisted himself onto a high stool. 他抬身坐上了一张高凳子。
• The sailors hoisted the cargo onto the deck. 水手们把货物吊到甲板上。

4 perimeter   

n.周边，周长，周界

参考例句：

• The river marks the eastern perimeter of our land.这条河标示我们的土地东面的边界。
• Drinks in hands,they wandered around the perimeter of the ball field.他们手里拿着饮料在球场周围漫不经心地遛跶。

5 waning   

adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡

参考例句：

• Her enthusiasm for the whole idea was waning rapidly. 她对整个想法的热情迅速冷淡了下来。
• The day is waning and the road is ending. 日暮途穷。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

7 mosques   

清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why make us believe that this tunnel runs underneath the mosques? 为什么要让我们相信这条隧洞是在清真寺下？
• The city's three biggest mosques, long fallen into disrepair, have been renovated. 城里最大的三座清真寺，过去年久失修，现在已经修复。

8 fumigator   

熏蒸消毒器，烟熏器

参考例句：

9 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

10 complexities   

复杂性(complexity的名词复数)； 复杂的事物

参考例句：

• The complexities of life bothered him. 生活的复杂使他困惑。
• The complexities of life bothered me. 生活的杂乱事儿使我心烦。