VOA标准英语2010年-Cold Weather Adds to Misery of Yemen's

The International Committee of the Red Cross reports bitterly cold weather is increasing the misery¹ of thousands of people fleeing the conflict in northern Yemen. At least 150,000 people have been affected² by the escalating³ fighting between the Yemeni government and Shi'ite rebels since mid-August. About half are internally displaced.

Lisa Schlein | Geneva 11 January 2010

Tens of thousands of people have fled the conflict in northern Yemen over the past five months.  And, they continue to leave in large numbers. 

A spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross, Dorothea Krimitsas, says freezing temperatures are making the already dire⁴ situation of people fleeing their homes even worse.

"Our concern according to what we can witness there, because we are on the ground, we are present on the ground - harsh weather conditions and winter conditions in northern Yemen are affecting the populations there, especially those fleeing who have absolutely no shelter and nothing and, sometimes no clothes," she explained.  "They have to flee just with what they have on them and leave.  So, this is something that is making their condition much more difficult." 

Krimitsas says the risk of respiratory infections is increasing, especially among children exposed to the cold, the wind, and the rain.  She says getting shelter for people living out in the cold is vital as is access to food, water and health care.

The Red Cross is unable to reach large parts of the conflict areas.  Therefore, Krimitsas says it is difficult to know how many people are not receiving aid. 

"But, despite these conditions, we continue to work in close cooperation with other organizations and especially together with the Yemeni Red Crescent Society," she said. "We continue to work and to maintain our aid effort.  We have so far provided around 73,000 displaced people with water, food and other essential items.  We continue to run five camps."

Krimitsas says the Red Cross also provides health care to the displaced and medical support, including supplies, to the Yemeni Red Crescent.

She says the International Committee of the Red Cross is renewing its appeal to all parties in the conflict to ensure the protection of civilians⁵ and to allow safe passage for humanitarian⁶ aid. 

1 misery   

n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦

参考例句：

• Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 escalating   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的现在分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The cost of living is escalating. 生活费用在迅速上涨。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cost of living is escalating in the country. 这个国家的生活费用在上涨。 来自辞典例句

4 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

5 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。

6 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。