VOA标准英语2013--Syrian Crisis Hits Lebanon's Economy

 

Syrian Crisis Hits Lebanon's Economy

 

BEIRUT — Early evening in Ashrafieh, a Beirut district known for its nightlife, the Couqley  Restaurant is getting ready to open for dinner.

Owner Ziad Kamel oversees¹ the preparations. Business is tough. Since the Syrian war began two years ago, the number of tourists visiting Lebanon has fallen by more than a third. Tourism revenues are down by almost one-half.

“Lots of restaurants, lots of bars have had to shut down,” Kamel said. “Hotels have had to shut down, if not the whole hotel, they have had to shut down half the hotel and operate on a skeleton staff. Everyone is in crisis management at the moment, in downsizing mode, not in growth mode definitely.”

According to Kamel, his restaurant is still profitable, though barely, because it caters² primarily to locals. But he had to close his flagship restaurant on the marina because it catered³ to wealthy foreign tourists who no longer come.

Due to the Syrian crisis, Lebanon's economy grew less than one percent last year, down from average annual growth of eight percent, says Byblos Bank's chief economist⁴.

“The areas that have suffered the most are consumer confidence and investor⁵ sentiment,” said Nassib Ghobril. “And that has been reflected on economic activity and therefore on real GDP growth.”

In addition, nearly a half million Syrian refugees have streamed into Lebanon, putting a strain on government services, health care and infrastructure⁶. 

Ghobril believes says Lebanon's economy will quickly recover quickly if the Syrian conflict ends soon.

“A negotiated solution to the Syrian crisis would bring that positive political shock to Lebanon,” he said. “It would help consumer confidence and investor sentiment recover and, therefore, it would help economic growth pick up rather quickly given that the Lebanese economy is driven by the private sector⁷.”

Kamel says Lebanese people are good at crisis management. Many businessmen have left but he feels it's important to invest in one's country.

“If all of us leave, then the people remaining here will certainly not be able to inspire enough change in the country for it to one day be normalized," he said.

A few hours later, Couqley Restaurant is open. Business is good. The conflict in Syria seems far away, but so does any end to it. And that is what worries Lebanese business people most of all. 

1 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

2 caters   

提供饮食及服务( cater的第三人称单数 )； 满足需要，适合

参考例句：

• That shop caters exclusively to the weaker sex. 那家商店专供妇女需要的商品。
• The boutique caters for a rather select clientele. 这家精品店为特定的顾客群服务。

3 catered   

提供饮食及服务( cater的过去式和过去分词 )； 满足需要，适合

参考例句：

• We catered for forty but only twenty came. 我们准备了40客饭菜，但只来了20个人。
• They catered for everyone regardless of social rank. 他们为所有人服务而不计较其社会地位。

4 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

5 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

6 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。

7 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。