Over the weekend, the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon became the scene of violent clashes, resulting in the devastating death of at least six people. The clashes erupted between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement and rival Islamist groups within the camp.
Established in 1948, Ein el-Hilweh is the largest refugee camp in Lebanon, housing over 63,000 registered refugees, although the actual population might be even higher. Notably, the camp falls outside the jurisdiction of Lebanese security forces, leaving the task of maintaining security to the rival factions present.
The clashes were triggered when a member of the Islamist al-Shabab al-Muslim group was killed on Saturday, with several others, including the group’s leader, sustaining injuries. The situation escalated further on Sunday, leading to the tragic death of Fatah commander Ashraf al-Armouchi and four of his aides.
Fatah condemned the violence, denouncing it as an “abominable and cowardly crime” aimed at destabilizing the security and stability of the Palestinian camps in Lebanon. During the clashes, Lebanese soldiers were also injured, as reported by the Lebanese army.
In response to the escalating situation, the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon, UNRWA, made a critical decision to suspend all its operations in the camp. UNRWA’s director, Dorothee Kraus, called on all militant parties involved to ensure the safety of civilians and respect the inviolability of UN premises.
Thankfully, a ceasefire has been agreed upon, as stated in a joint announcement reported by AFP. However, this tragic incident sheds light on the dire living conditions in refugee camps across Lebanon, where over 479,000 refugees are registered with UNRWA. Roughly half of these refugees reside in 12 refugee camps scattered throughout the country, highlighting the immense challenges and hardships faced by those seeking refuge in Lebanon.
