VOA标准英语2014--重建中的摩加迪沙机场和海港

 

Rebuilding of Mogadishu Airport, Seaport¹ Underway 重建中的摩加迪沙机场和海港

MOGADISHU— 

With an improvement in security, the Somali government is taking advantage of relative calm and rebuilding the country’s major source of revenues - namely the airport and seaport,  with major assistance from Turkey.

This once volatile² and bullet-riddled capital, Mogadishu, is being revitalized at a swift pace.

One of the government’s priorities is to upgrade the transit³ hubs - crippled by two decades of civil strife⁴.

With Turkish funding and assistance, the sole international airport in Mogadishu is being revamped with completion expected in 2015.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says the Aden Abdulle Osman facility will be world class.

“Once opened, we expect the airport to resemble other world airports in terms of beauty and airport services. This is a major step in the construction face and it will change the face of Somalia," he said.    

In 2013, the International Civil Aviation Organization removed Mogadishu’s airport from the ‘Zone 5’ list of airports deemed to pose a security risk to aircraft, crew and passengers.

Since then, air traffic has increased - with carriers such as Turkish Airlines running two flights a week to Mogadishu.

And it’s not just the airport; Somali authorities recently handed over the management of the Mogadishu seaport to a Turkish firm.

The Al Bayrak Company is charged with bringing in new technology to modernize⁵ the cargo⁶ hub to international standards and provide new jobs for young, educated Somalis.

The Port of Mogadishu has been one of the only employers for many Somalis for decades.

An improvement in security, thanks to African Union forces in the past two years, has offered the business community a window of opportunity to expand  trade all across the city. They are now competing for prime spots on major roads such as Makka Al Mukaramma.

Businessmen, like Zakariya Mohamud, say the stability here is attracting investors⁷ - mostly the Somali diaspora community.

“There has been so much progress in Mogadishu since I returned six months ago," he said. "Businesses are propping⁸ up; the population of people in the city has sharply increased. The return of the Diaspora community has also transformed the city."

Turkey continues to lead the efforts in rebuilding Somalia.  There are new roads, schools, hospitals, hotels and banks - all a sign that Somalis are optimistic about the future.

1 seaport   

n.海港，港口，港市

参考例句：

• Ostend is the most important seaport in Belgium.奥斯坦德是比利时最重要的海港。
• A seaport where ships can take on supplies of coal.轮船能够补充煤炭的海港。

2 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

3 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

4 strife   

n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争

参考例句：

• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。
• Money is a major cause of strife in many marriages.金钱是造成很多婚姻不和的一个主要原因。

5 modernize   

vt.使现代化，使适应现代的需要

参考例句：

• It was their manifest failure to modernize the country's industries.他们使国家进行工业现代化，明显失败了。
• There is a pressing need to modernise our electoral system.我们的选举制度迫切需要现代化。

6 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

7 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

8 propping   

支撑

参考例句：

• You can usually find Jack propping up the bar at his local. 你常常可以看见杰克频繁出没于他居住的那家酒店。
• The government was accused of propping up declining industries. 政府被指责支持日益衰败的产业。