The violence currently taking place in the Palestinian refugee camp of Aïn el-Heloué, in Lebanon, continues to claim victims. Last Saturday, at least four people lost their lives during clashes between small Islamist groups and fighters from Fatah, the main Palestinian organization. Among the victims was a civilian who was hit by a stray bullet outside the camp.
These clashes, which began Thursday evening, constitute a new escalation of violence in this camp already battered by similar fighting at the end of July-beginning of August which left thirteen dead. The sounds of automatic weapons and rockets are heard again, and dozens of injuries have been reported. The inhabitants of the camp live in a climate of terror, some have fled with the bare essentials, preferring to sleep outside rather than risk their lives in an environment that has become more than dangerous.
The situation in the camp also has consequences on local infrastructure. A public hospital, located near the camp, was forced to transfer all its patients to other establishments as a safety measure. In addition, the municipality is working with the Red Cross to set up tents to house the displaced.
Faced with this recurring violence, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called for an end to military operations and stressed the importance of cooperating with Lebanese security forces to resolve tensions. For its part, the Lebanese army appealed to all parties involved in the fighting to stop it, in order to protect the lives of innocent people.
Ain el-Heloué is the largest of the 12 Palestinian camps in Lebanon, and shelters around 54,000 refugees. Unfortunately, these camps are often the scene of violence and rivalries between different Palestinian factions. Fatah, a historic organization, is still the dominant force there, but must face challenge from Islamist organizations such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
This new escalation of violence in the Aïn el-Heloué refugee camp is a tragic reminder of the precarious situation in which these populations have lived for decades. It is essential that the Lebanese authorities and Palestinian organizations quickly find a peaceful solution in order to put an end to this violence and guarantee the safety of the camp’s residents.