2007年VOA标准英语-WFP Helps Nomads in Djibouti Recover From Droug
时间:2019-01-13 作者:英语课 分类:2007年VOA标准英语(六月)
Geneva
23 June 2007
The World Food Program says it is gradually shifting from emergency assistance to Food for Work projects to help thousands of nomadic 1 herders in Djibouti recover from years of recurrent drought. WFP is running these programs jointly 2 with other U.N. agencies and the country's Ministry 3 of Agriculture. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.
Nomads 4 in northwestern Djibouti have been hit hard by five consecutive 5 years of drought. The lack of rainfall has devastated 6 pasturelands on which rural herdsmen traditionally rely.
The World Food Program says 20 percent of the population was short of food when stocks from the last harvest in September ran out. Furthermore, they say, many pastoralists lost all their animals.
WFP spokesman, Simon Pluess, says his agency wants to wean the herders away from emergency assistance by introducing Work for Food programs aimed at long-term recovery.
"What we are trying to do together with the Ministry of Agriculture and UNICEF is, for example to dig wells so that despite drought, these herders will be able to irrigate 7 their fields," he noted 8. "And, together with the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, we will try and promote vegetable gardens."
In this way, Pluess says, the United Nations hopes to lessen 9 the suffering of these vulnerable people and improve their nutritional 10 status. He says some 5,600 people will participate in the Food for Work programs. They will receive enough rations 11 to feed themselves and their families. This means a total of 28,000 people will benefit from the food assistance.
Pluess says Djibouti is less fortunate than its neighbors. He says agriculture is very limited because of inadequate 12 rainfall and high temperatures. Agriculture only accounts for three percent of Djibouti's gross domestic product.
Pluess says the country imports more than 80 percent of its cereal requirements. He says it is important to find solutions to mitigate 13 the impact of drought and the food shortages that result.
"Without assistance, many people may be forced to move to Djibouti city where they lose their pastoralist lifestyle," he added. "What will happen is they will only add to slums on the outskirts 14 of the capital. We would like these people to stay in the rural areas. I think they can live a life of much more dignity than in the slums in the city. And by improving water access and gardens, I think we can help them."
The 2007-2008 forecast looks better for rainfall. But, if it fails, Pluess tells VOA the World Food Program will have food stocks on hand to provide emergency relief for the people of Djibouti.
- This tribe still live a nomadic life.这个民族仍然过着游牧生活。
- The plowing culture and the nomadic culture are two traditional principal cultures in China.农耕文化与游牧文化是我国传统的两大主体文化。
- Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
- She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。
- They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
- We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。
- For ten years she dwelled among the nomads of North America. 她在北美游牧民中生活了十年。
- Nomads have inhabited this region for thousands of years. 游牧民族在这地区居住已有数千年了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
- The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。
- The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
- His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。
- The farmer dug several trenches to irrigate the rice fields.这个农民挖了好几条沟以灌溉稻田。
- They have built canals to irrigate the desert.他们建造成水渠以灌溉沙漠。
- The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
- Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
- Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
- They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。
- A diet lacking in nutritional value will not keep a person healthy.缺乏营养价值的饮食不能维持人的健康。
- The labels on food products give a lot of information about their nutritional content.食品上的标签提供很多关于营养成分的信息。
- They are provisioned with seven days' rations. 他们得到了7天的给养。
- The soldiers complained that they were getting short rations. 士兵们抱怨他们得到的配给不够数。
- The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
- She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。
- The government is trying to mitigate the effects of inflation.政府正试图缓和通货膨胀的影响。
- Governments should endeavour to mitigate distress.政府应努力缓解贫困问题。