Ireland has taken in thousands of Ukrainian refugees since the war started

Ireland has taken in thousands of Ukrainian refugees since the war started

　　Transcript¹

　　NPR's A Martinez talks to Nick Henderson, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council, a non-governmental organization that is helping² Ukrainian refugees resettle in Ireland.

　　A MARTINEZ, HOST:

　　More than 3.5 million people have fled Ukraine since the war started. Ireland, a nation of just 5 million people that in Europe is geographically³ the furthest away from Ukraine, has already welcomed about 10,000 Ukrainian refugees so far. Marina Spivak (ph) is one of them. Her home in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv was destroyed in the first hours of the war on February 24. She traveled about 750 miles by car to Romania with her four children, her husband and another family. They left with only the clothes on their backs, no time to pack. Then they flew to Ireland, which welcomed them with open arms.

　　MARINA SPIVAK: We are so very happy to stay in Ireland because it's a very kindly⁴ people and very understand what about Ukraine situation and war. And we lost our houses. We died, our people, our children, in our country.

　　MARTINEZ: Marina, who owned a cosmetology and dermatology clinic, doesn't know when she'll be able to return to Ukraine or where her mother and nephew still live.

　　SPIVAK: I know that many building is destroyed now. And whole center of my city is destroyed now. And I don't know how many yet, building my country. And now I don't what I do in the future.

　　MARTINEZ: Refugee groups expect that at least 50,000 Ukrainians could settle in Ireland, a number that could double if the conflict intensifies⁵. Refugees are provided asylum⁶, as well as access to housing, education and medical treatment under the European Union's special protection directive for the first time since it was enacted⁷ in 2001. I talked to Nick Henderson, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council, a non-governmental organization that is helping Ukrainian refugees resettle in Ireland.

　　And why is Ireland so welcoming right now to Ukrainian refugees?

　　NICK HENDERSON: I think people have a lot of affinity⁸ and a lot of sympathy and solidarity⁹ with Ukrainian people currently. The Russian invasion, as we all can see, is shocking in many ways. And people recognize that fact. They see Ukrainians as fellow Europeans, as people who deserve our solidarity and support. And they want to do something to help them. And I think, while we very much commend the Irish government for their response and the way that they have responded to supporting Ukrainian refugees, it is also worth flagging that. And I think a lot of people in the Irish asylum system will be looking across and thinking, wow, what they've done for Ukrainian people, they could have also done for us when we arrived into Ireland. Ten thousand people have arrived within three weeks. And that is as many people who've applied¹⁰ for asylum or refugee status in Ireland since 2019. And that's only 3 to 4 weeks since the invasion commenced.

　　MARTINEZ: So Nick, on long-term housing - I know Ireland currently has a housing crisis of its own. How is it planning to accommodate such a large influx¹¹ of refugees, over 10,000?

　　HENDERSON: This is the huge challenge. It's going to be very difficult. We do have a housing crisis. There are already 2,000 people in asylum accommodation who, in theory, can leave but cannot because of the housing crisis. And Ukrainian people will be, in effect, in that same situation.

　　MARTINEZ: I know there's been concerns by the U.K. over Russians possibly infiltrating¹² the U.K., pretending to be Ukrainian refugees. Does Ireland share those security concerns?

　　HENDERSON: The U.K. have messed - I would say, almost messed around on this issue and not made quick decisions. And that is exactly what people don't need. People need to be given support and assistance and access to a safe place now, not some time in the future. And it's also worth remembering as well, we have many other countries, as does the U.K., where people can arrive from without a visa. So you know, security concerns don't necessarily - apparently¹³ don't apply to those countries. So why should they apply to Ukraine as well?

　　MARTINEZ: Nick, what have you heard from some of the Ukrainian refugees that have arrived in Ireland already? What stories stand out to you?

　　HENDERSON: So there's several things. I think people - what we're seeing is just a relief to be able to get out of the situation, to be here and to be in a safe place. We had St. Patrick's Day, a national holiday, on Thursday, last week. And already, some people were able to enjoy that. And we've had calls and emails wishing us a happy St Patrick's Day. So people are already sort of starting to feel not that this is their home - I think that will take months, if not years - but that at least it's somewhere that they can be safe.

　　At the same time, however, there is a huge level of anxiety from people and concern from people, particularly about their family and friends and their husbands, their brothers, their sons. So we've had a few queries¹⁴ about pets. Now, I don't know if you have a pet, A, but I do. And the idea of being told tomorrow, I'm leaving my house. And you're going to leave your country. And what would you do with your pet? And that - those are the ones that sort of strike through because that - people are having to leave at such short notice with only a bag. And those are the queries that really strike through and make the humanity of this situation come through, I suppose.

　　MARTINEZ: And what about psychological support?

　　HENDERSON: While we may be able to give some short-term support, and bearing in mind that Ireland's - rather like its housing crisis, we have a mental health crisis, indeed, I'd say, particularly after COVID. And our resources there are already under - already very stretched. It may be possible to get some people some short-term care, access to help lines and medication if they need it. But I think the long-term idea of psychological support and healing is, unfortunately, a long way off.

　　MARTINEZ: That's Nick Henderson, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council. Nick, thank you very much.

　　HENDERSON: Thank you.

　　(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 geographically   

adv.地理学上，在地理上，地理方面

参考例句：

• Geographically, the UK is on the periphery of Europe. 从地理位置上讲，英国处于欧洲边缘。 来自辞典例句
• All these events, however geographically remote, urgently affected Western financial centers. 所有这些事件，无论发生在地理上如何遥远的地方，都对西方金融中心产生紧迫的影响。 来自名作英译部分

4 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

5 intensifies   

n.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的名词复数 )v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A clear atmosphere intensifies the blue of the sky. 纯净的空气使天空变得更蓝。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Blowing on fire intensifies the heat. 吹火使热度加强。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 asylum   

n.避难所，庇护所，避难

参考例句：

• The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
• Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。

7 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

8 affinity   

n.亲和力，密切关系

参考例句：

• I felt a great affinity with the people of the Highlands.我被苏格兰高地人民深深地吸引。
• It's important that you share an affinity with your husband.和丈夫有共同的爱好是十分重要的。

9 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

10 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

11 influx   

n.流入，注入

参考例句：

• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
• Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施，因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。

12 infiltrating   

v.（使）渗透，（指思想）渗入人的心中( infiltrate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Be vigilant against the danger of enemy agents infiltrating the government and boring from within. 要警惕敌特渗入政府内部进行暗中破坏。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The metastatic melanoma is seen here to be infiltrating into the myocardium. 图示转移性黑色素瘤浸润到心肌。 来自互联网

13 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

14 queries   

n.问题( query的名词复数 )；疑问；询问；问号v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 )；询问

参考例句：

• Our assistants will be happy to answer your queries. 我们的助理很乐意回答诸位的问题。
• Her queries were rhetorical,and best ignored. 她的质问只不过是说说而已，最好不予理睬。 来自《简明英汉词典》