2006年VOA标准英语-WFP to End Lebanon Operation in October

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
16 September 2006
 
The World Food Program (WFP) says it will wind up its food assistance program in Lebanon by the end of October because of the country's rapid recovery from the war with Israel.  A two-week assessment¹ to evaluate the country's food needs finds the situation has greatly improved.

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		A Lebanese boy eats foods near a building that was destroyed in the Israeli bombardment during the month-long Israel-Hezbollah war in this August 30 file photo

The World Food Program says Lebanon soon will be food secure.  It says the commercial sector² is bouncing back more quickly than expected, making a withdrawal³ from the country possible.

WFP spokeswoman, Christiane Berthiaume, says even the southern part of the country, which was heavily bombarded during the war between Israel and the Hezbollah militia⁴, is recovering quickly.

"The conclusion of the reports [is] that there is enough food in the country and that the level, the nutritional⁵ level of the people is quite high, it is quite good, even in the south of the country," she said.  "The market is showing encouraging signs of recovery.  The prices are not too high." 

The World Food Program attributes the relatively⁶ quick recovery to the short four-week duration of the war and to the lifting of the Israeli naval⁷ blockade.  This is making it possible for aid agencies to bring in large amounts of food and other relief supplies.  It also is allowing Lebanon to resume its commercial activities.

At the height of the war, the World Food Program was feeding more than 700,000 people.  That number now has been cut in half.  Although the general outlook is good, Berthiaume says some population groups are still vulnerable and in need of food aid.

"More specifically, daily workers, fishermen, and also some farmers - those who grow fruit, vegetables or tobacco.  They will still need help.  So, WFP will still distribute food aid to 350,000 people until the 24th of October.  After that, we will scale down our operation and close our offices," she added. 

Berthiaume says the World Food Program will keep an eye on the situation in Lebanon, even after it withdraws.  But she says the agency believes local communities will be in a position to help those who continue to face hardships.

1 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

2 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

3 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

4 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

5 nutritional   

adj.营养的，滋养的

参考例句：

• A diet lacking in nutritional value will not keep a person healthy.缺乏营养价值的饮食不能维持人的健康。
• The labels on food products give a lot of information about their nutritional content.食品上的标签提供很多关于营养成分的信息。

6 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

7 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。