VOA慢速英語:Kenya Shopping Mall Attack

27 September, 2013

From VOA Learning English, this is In The News.

It has been a week since gunmen attacked a shopping center in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. The attack left more than 70 people dead. The Kenyan Red Cross said Thursday that about 60 others were still missing. The attack left many people feeling powerless and shocked. But instead of hiding at home, Kenyans have come out to donate food, clothing, their own blood and money. The country appears more united because of the attack.

The violence at the Westgate shopping mall lasted four days. During that time, medical workers offered help to victims and security forces at a nearby community center. Those seeking assistance often had to run for cover as gunshots and explosions were heard.

A small army of volunteers came to the center. They provided food, medical services and emotional support to an endless line of people.

Vimal Shah helped to direct the community center operation. He says so many people wanted to feed Kenyan security forces or help the victims that he had to turn people away.

Nzioka Waita works for Safaricom. In just two days, the communications company collected more than $700,000 for the Kenyan Red Cross.

"This is the Kenya I know and I grew up knowing. One that was built on the spirit of ‘Harambee,' spirit of togetherness. So you know, I am pleasantly surprised in how quickly the funds have come together, but not entirely surprised that we've pulled together from the various communities and religious affiliations."

He also says there has been huge support from the many Kenyans who live overseas.

But the mall attack has also incited some tension in Kenya. The Somali Islamist group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack. Some reports say the attackers had freed some Muslims, but executed other people. After those stories appeared, there was criticism of Muslims and Somalis on social networking websites.

There are still tribal tensions left from the Kenyan elections earlier this year. Vimal Shah says the crisis last weekend brought the nation together. But he hopes that Kenyans do not start fearing one another after seeing such violence.

"This is pure terrorism. This is not about religion. This is not about one religion against another religion. And I think Kenyans stand together. We've got all different tribes coming together, all different people coming together, and saying, ‘United we stand, divided we fall.'"

Naima Amir collects money for St. John Ambulance Kenya, a medical aid group. She says the mall attack shows that Kenyans have closed the wounds from the country's 2007 elections.

"People have learned to appreciate peace. They have learned to appreciate each other. And the diversity within ourselves is a strength and not a line to divide the country."

Naima Amir is a Muslim. She describes the attack as "senseless violence" that has nothing to do with Islam.

On Tuesday, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta also appealed for unity. He declared that Kenya would defeat "the monster of terrorism," one that wanted to tear the country apart.

And that's In The News from VOA Learning English. I'm Steve Ember.

From VOA Learning English, this is In The News.

這里是美國之音慢速英語新聞報道。

It has been a week since gunmen attacked a shopping center in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. The attack left more than 70 people dead. The Kenyan Red Cross said Thursday that about 60 others were still missing. The attack left many people feeling powerless and shocked. But instead of hiding at home, Kenyans have come out to donate food, clothing, their own blood and money. The country appears more united because of the attack.

距離槍手襲擊肯尼亞首都內(nèi)羅畢的一家購物中心已經(jīng)過去了一個星期。這次襲擊造成了70多人遇難。肯尼亞紅十字會周四表示，還有大約60人失蹤。這次襲擊讓許多人感覺震驚和無助。但肯尼亞人沒有躲在家里，而是走出來獻血和捐錢捐物。肯尼亞也因為這次襲擊顯而得更加團結。

The violence at the Westgate shopping mall lasted four days. During that time, medical workers offered help to victims and security forces at a nearby community center. Those seeking assistance often had to run for cover as gunshots and explosions were heard.

韋斯特蓋特購物中心的暴力事件持續(xù)了四天。在此期間，醫(yī)務工作者在附近的社區(qū)中心為受害者和安全部隊提供了救助。由于槍聲爆炸聲不斷，那些求助者常常要奔走尋找掩護。

A small army of volunteers came to the center. They provided food, medical services and emotional support to an endless line of people.

一支小志愿軍來到了這個社區(qū)中心。他們向無盡的人群隊伍提供了食物、醫(yī)療服務和情感支持。

Vimal Shah helped to direct the community center operation. He says so many people wanted to feed Kenyan security forces or help the victims that he had to turn people away.

維瑪·沙阿(Vimal Shah)幫助指導該社區(qū)中心的運作。他表示，有很多人想要為肯尼亞安全部隊提供補給或幫助受害者，他不得不把這些人勸走。

Nzioka Waita works for Safaricom. In just two days, the communications company collected more than $700,000 for the Kenyan Red Cross.

Nzioka Waita就職于Safaricom(肯尼亞移動運營商)。在短短兩天內(nèi)，該通信公司就為肯尼亞紅十字會募集到了70多萬美元。

"This is the Kenya I know and I grew up knowing. One that was built on the spirit of ‘Harambee,' spirit of togetherness. So you know, I am pleasantly surprised in how quickly the funds have come together, but not entirely surprised that we've pulled together from the various communities and religious affiliations."

他說，“這就是我從小熟知的肯尼亞。它是建立在‘哈蘭比’精神的基礎上，這是一種團結的精神。因此，我對這些資金如何這么快匯聚成河感到驚喜，但我對不同社區(qū)和宗教信仰團結起來完全不覺得意外。”

He also says there has been huge support from the many Kenyans who live overseas.

他還表示，許多肯尼亞僑民也提供了巨大的支持。

But the mall attack has also incited some tension in Kenya. The Somali Islamist group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack. Some reports say the attackers had freed some Muslims, but executed other people. After those stories appeared, there was criticism of Muslims and Somalis on social networking websites.

但這次商場襲擊也煽動了肯尼亞的緊張局勢。索馬里伊斯蘭組織青年黨(al-Shabab)聲稱對這次襲擊負責。有報道說，襲擊者釋放了一些穆斯林，但處決了其他人。這一說法傳出后，社交網(wǎng)站上出現(xiàn)了對穆斯林和索馬里的批評聲。

There are still tribal tensions left from the Kenyan elections earlier this year. Vimal Shah says the crisis last weekend brought the nation together. But he hopes that Kenyans do not start fearing one another after seeing such violence.

今年早些時候的肯尼亞選舉還是留下了部族緊張局面。沙阿表示，上周的危機使得肯尼亞團結了起來。但他希望，肯尼亞人在看到這種暴力行為后，不要開始互相懼怕。

"This is pure terrorism. This is not about religion. This is not about one religion against another religion. And I think Kenyans stand together. We've got all different tribes coming together, all different people coming together, and saying, ‘United we stand, divided we fall.'"

他說，“這是純粹的恐怖主義，和宗教無關。這不是一種宗教反對其它宗教。我認為肯尼亞人會團結起來。我們已經(jīng)讓不同部落、不同人群團結了起來。并且喊出‘團結則存，分裂則亡。’”

Naima Amir collects money for St. John Ambulance Kenya, a medical aid group. She says the mall attack shows that Kenyans have closed the wounds from the country's 2007 elections.

奈瑪·阿米爾(Naima Amir)為肯尼亞圣約翰救護機構募集資金，這是一家醫(yī)療救護組織。她說，這次商場襲擊表明肯尼亞人已經(jīng)治好了2007年選舉造成的傷痛。

"People have learned to appreciate peace. They have learned to appreciate each other. And the diversity within ourselves is a strength and not a line to divide the country."

她說，“人們學會了享受和平和感激彼此。我們自身的多元化是一種力量，而不是分裂國家的界線。”

Naima Amir is a Muslim. She describes the attack as "senseless violence" that has nothing to do with Islam.

阿米爾是一位穆斯林。她稱這次襲擊是一次無謂的暴行，和伊斯蘭沒有任何關系。

On Tuesday, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta also appealed for unity. He declared that Kenya would defeat "the monster of terrorism," one that wanted to tear the country apart.

周二，肯尼亞總統(tǒng)烏呼魯·肯雅塔(Uhuru Kenyatta)也呼吁團結一致。他宣稱肯尼亞將擊敗希望分裂該國的恐怖主義魔鬼。