VOA标准英语2013--叙利亚内战,难民危机挑战约旦

 

Syrian Civil War, Refugee Crisis Challenge Jordan 叙利亚内战,难民危机挑战约旦

STATE DEPARTMENT — Syria's civil war and the refugee crisis it has  created are presenting a growing challenge to the government of  neighboring Jordan.

The impact of the fighting in Syria is felt far beyond its borders; it  has drawn¹ in militia² from Lebanon and Iraq and seen refugees flee to  Turkey and Jordan.

In an interview with Turkish television, President Bashar al-Assad said  all of Syria's neighbors are paying a price for the war against him.

"If we look at it as though it is a raging fire that is burning  society, it must extend its reach.  So it's impossible that Syria will  be on fire and Turkey is cold, comfortable. The same goes for Iraq and  Lebanon and Jordan," explained Assad.

In Jordan, there have been demonstrations³ against the Kingdom's  alliance with the United States.  It is a public discontent emboldened⁴  by the war in Syria, according to former U.S. ambassador Adam Ereli.

"Domestic unrest and political unrest and popular dissatisfaction with  governmental policies is present in Jordan.  And looking at what's  happening in Syria influences that," said Ereli.

Fighting in Syria unsettles Jordan, which is already at the crossroads  of regional crises, claims American University professor Akbar Ahmed.

"Sooner or later that would affect the Palestinians, draw in Hezbollah  and then back to the Shia/Sunni confrontation⁵ and the regional powers.  And that is a nightmare for Jordan," said Ahmed.

The most visible impact on Jordan is more than half-a-million Syrian  refugees. Jordan's King Abdullah told the United Nations that, "the  damage and dangers are mounting."

"These are not just numbers. They are people, who need food, water,  shelter, sanitation⁶, electricity, health care, and more.  Not even the  strongest global economies could absorb this demand on infrastructure⁷  and resources," continued Abdullah.

That challenges the structure of Jordanian society, says U.N. High  Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres.

"They are going through huge demographic changes following the refugee  influx, unsettling their social and economic fabric," explained  Guterres.

Ahmed points out that this is all happening at an especially precarious⁸  time for King Abdullah.

"Jordan is a very fragile state. So it has a charismatic, intelligent,  wise ruler but a fragile base to it," said Ahmed.

The demands of Syrian refugees only make that worse as Jordanian  leaders try to insulate themselves from the conflict.

"It requires money, which they don't have. It requires flexibility⁹,  innovation, reform which they do have and they are working on.  But I  would say it is a very tense situation," said Ereli.

Jordan wants to avoid being drawn further into Syria's civil war and is  part of efforts by the United States and Russia to find a political  solution to a conflict that has already killed more than 100,000  people. 

1 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

2 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。

3 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

4 emboldened   

v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Emboldened by the wine, he went over to introduce himself to her. 他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她作自我介绍。
• His success emboldened him to expand his business. 他有了成就因而激发他进一步扩展业务。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

6 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 precarious   

adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的

参考例句：

• Our financial situation had become precarious.我们的财务状况已变得不稳定了。
• He earned a precarious living as an artist.作为一个艺术家，他过得是朝不保夕的生活。

9 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。