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(单词翻译)
By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
06 June 2008
The United Nations is lending its voice to widespread international condemnation1 of the decision by the Zimbabwean government of Robert Mugabe to suspend the delivery of aid by private agencies in the country. The United Nations says halting their work will hamper2 the UN's humanitarian3 operations as well. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.
Zimbabwean woman puts maize5 into bag in Domboshawa, 23 April 2008 |
The United Nations warns President Robert Mugabe's decision to halt aid will have serious repercussions6 for the people of Zimbabwe. It says non-governmental agencies are key implementing7 partners and without their assistance, the United Nations will not be able to deliver the food, water and other essential relief to the desperate millions in Zimbabwe.
Spokeswoman for the U.N. Organization for the Coordination8 of Humanitarian Assistance, Elizabeth Byrs, tells VOA over one-third of the population - or more than four million people - are in need of assistance.
"According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, with poor rainfall and lack of seeds, it means that this year's harvest will be worse than in 2007. It is already of concern. So, if we cannot have our implementing partners on board, it means that these people will not get the appropriate assistance," said Byrs.
More than half of Zimbabwe's population lives on less than one dollar a day. More than 1.5 million people have HIV/AIDS, with more than 3,000 dying every week.
The United Nations warns more people will become malnourished and sick. Some may even die if they are forced to live on starvation rations4.
The Zimbabwean authorities say they have halted aid because the agencies are supporting the opposition9 movement. The agencies deny this accusation10. The United Nations says these restrictions11 go against fundamental humanitarian principles.
Louise Arbour, 2 June 2008 |
U.N. Human Rights spokesman, Rupert Colville, tells VOA the U.N. High Commissioner12 for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, considers this action to be totally unconscionable.
"To deprive people of food because of an election is a complete perversion13 of democracy. How can you possibly deprive people with food and then ask for a democratic vote. And, not just food, but all the other aid that Zimbabweans need and are getting from international aid agencies. This is very important. So, to just postpone14 it for two or three weeks because an election is taking place simply is not acceptable," said Colville.
Colville says the government might be in violation15 of international human rights law, especially the international covenant16 on civil and political rights. He says humanitarian aid must not be politicized.
1 condemnation | |
n.谴责; 定罪 | |
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2 hamper | |
vt.妨碍,束缚,限制;n.(有盖的)大篮子 | |
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3 humanitarian | |
n.人道主义者,博爱者,基督凡人论者 | |
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4 rations | |
定量( ration的名词复数 ); 配给量; 正常量; 合理的量 | |
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5 maize | |
n.玉米 | |
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6 repercussions | |
n.后果,反响( repercussion的名词复数 );余波 | |
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7 implementing | |
v.实现( implement的现在分词 );执行;贯彻;使生效 | |
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8 coordination | |
n.协调,协作 | |
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9 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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10 accusation | |
n.控告,指责,谴责 | |
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11 restrictions | |
约束( restriction的名词复数 ); 管制; 制约因素; 带限制性的条件(或规则) | |
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12 commissioner | |
n.(政府厅、局、处等部门)专员,长官,委员 | |
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13 perversion | |
n.曲解;堕落;反常 | |
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14 postpone | |
v.延期,推迟 | |
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15 violation | |
n.违反(行为),违背(行为),侵犯 | |
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16 covenant | |
n.盟约,契约;v.订盟约 | |
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