VOA标准英语2014--巴基斯坦反塔利班攻势扩大

 

Pakistan Anti-Taliban Offensive Sparks Mass-Displacement 巴基斯坦反塔利班攻势扩大

As Pakistani forces target Islamist militants² in the country’s volatile³ northwest, the government is attempting to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the military operation.

The number of internally displaced people is now about half a million. Many have complained of inadequate⁴ government camp facilities and uncertainty⁵ about their future.

The military operation to crush the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and affiliated⁶ militant¹ groups was launched after peace talks between Prime Minister Sharif's government and the TTP failed to produce results.

The military is calling the operation a success despite the humanitarian⁷ crisis it has triggered.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited a government relief camp Friday to assure the people of the government's support.

"The government and military together are trying to ease your problems, and I am hopeful that soon, step by step, these difficulties will end," Sharif said.

But VOA's Deewa Service reported from the area that many people complain they find it difficult to get food and access to badly needed health facilities. There are also complaints that the use of force is causing loss of lives and property of innocent civilians⁸.

"I did nothing wrong and still suffered a lot," said one man at the camp. "Those responsible for terrorism have already fled the area but our houses and belongings⁹ are being destroyed."

According to army officials, civilians are given adequate advance notice to leave the area before the offensives begin. They also say armed forces take maximum caution in making sure that only terrorists' hideouts are destroyed.

But even with advanced notice an offensive, many of the families forced out must travel for days to reach a safe destination.

"I have been on the road for two days and nights," one another person as the camp for the displaced persons. "There is no food to ear or anything to drink." 

Sharif announced financial assistance to these families for the month of Ramadan. International help from the United States and World Food Program is also pouring in to help ease the burden.

While humanitarian aid efforts may bring some relief to those adversely¹⁰ effected, analysts¹¹ say, the real solution will come only when security forces manage to crush the militancy¹² that claims thousands of lives in Pakistan each year.

1 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

2 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

4 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。

5 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

6 affiliated   

adj. 附属的, 有关连的

参考例句：

• The hospital is affiliated with the local university. 这家医院附属于当地大学。
• All affiliated members can vote. 所有隶属成员都有投票权。

7 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。

8 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。

9 belongings   

n.私人物品，私人财物

参考例句：

• I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
• Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。

10 adversely   

ad.有害地

参考例句：

• We commented adversely upon the imbecility of that message of telegraphic style. 我们对着这条电报式的愚蠢的留言发泄了一通不满。
• Widely fluctuating exchange rates may adversely affect international trade. 浮动幅度很大的汇率可能会对国际贸易产生有害的影响。

11 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

12 militancy   

n.warlike behavior or tendency

参考例句：

• Full of militancy and revolutionary ardour, the people of all nationalities in the country are working hard for the realization of the four modernizations. 全国各族人民意气风发， 斗志昂扬，为实现四个现代化而奋战。
• The seniority system is another factor that leads to union militancy. 排资论辈制度也是导致工会好斗争的另一因素。