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| Lebanon clashes: Thousands flee violence at Palestinian refugee camp | Lebanon clashes: Thousands flee violence at Palestinian refugee camp |
| (25 days later) | |
| The UN says more than 2,000 people have been forced to flee violence between rival factions at a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. | The UN says more than 2,000 people have been forced to flee violence between rival factions at a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. |
| The clashes between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement and Islamist groups left 11 people dead, the UN says. | The clashes between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement and Islamist groups left 11 people dead, the UN says. |
| A ceasefire has now been agreed although gunfire was still being reported on Monday. | A ceasefire has now been agreed although gunfire was still being reported on Monday. |
| Established in 1948, the Ein el-Hilweh camp is the largest in Lebanon. | Established in 1948, the Ein el-Hilweh camp is the largest in Lebanon. |
| The UN says it houses more than 63,000 registered refugees, but some estimates say the population is higher. | The UN says it houses more than 63,000 registered refugees, but some estimates say the population is higher. |
| The camp, situated near the southern city of Sidon, falls outside the jurisdiction of the Lebanese security forces. | The camp, situated near the southern city of Sidon, falls outside the jurisdiction of the Lebanese security forces. |
| It is left up to rival factions within the camp to maintain its security, but factional disputes are common. | It is left up to rival factions within the camp to maintain its security, but factional disputes are common. |
| The weekend's violence erupted on Saturday when a member of an Islamist group was killed, AFP news agency reports, quoting an unnamed source inside the camp. | The weekend's violence erupted on Saturday when a member of an Islamist group was killed, AFP news agency reports, quoting an unnamed source inside the camp. |
| Tensions continued to mount through to Sunday, culminating with the death of a Fatah commander, Ashraf al-Armouchi, and several of his aides. | Tensions continued to mount through to Sunday, culminating with the death of a Fatah commander, Ashraf al-Armouchi, and several of his aides. |
| A ceasefire agreed on Sunday soon broke down, and heavy fighting was again reported on Monday with gun and anti-tank fire echoing through the camp. | A ceasefire agreed on Sunday soon broke down, and heavy fighting was again reported on Monday with gun and anti-tank fire echoing through the camp. |
| More than 40 people were injured in the clashes, including a UN aid worker, and two schools were damaged, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said. | More than 40 people were injured in the clashes, including a UN aid worker, and two schools were damaged, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said. |
| A second ceasefire agreed on Monday after a meeting with the local MP appears to have improved the situation, although there are still reports of some gunfire. | A second ceasefire agreed on Monday after a meeting with the local MP appears to have improved the situation, although there are still reports of some gunfire. |
| The Palestinian presidency denounced the fighting, calling the security of the camps a "red line". | The Palestinian presidency denounced the fighting, calling the security of the camps a "red line". |
| "It is not permissible for anyone to intimidate our people and tamper with their security," it said in a statement. | "It is not permissible for anyone to intimidate our people and tamper with their security," it said in a statement. |
| As well as the nine dead, Lebanese soldiers were also injured during the violence, the Lebanese army said. | As well as the nine dead, Lebanese soldiers were also injured during the violence, the Lebanese army said. |
| The director of the UNRWA in Lebanon, Dorothee Kraus, said all the agency's operations in the camp had been suspended. | The director of the UNRWA in Lebanon, Dorothee Kraus, said all the agency's operations in the camp had been suspended. |
| She called on "all parties to immediately return to calm and take all measures necessary to protect civilians, including children". | She called on "all parties to immediately return to calm and take all measures necessary to protect civilians, including children". |
| More than 489,000 Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, the agency says. but no more than 250,000 currently reside in the country. | |
| Update 23 August 23: This article was amended to include an estimate of the number of Palestinian refugees residing in Lebanon. | |
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| Syrian refugees in Lebanon describe how living on aid is "eating us up inside" | Syrian refugees in Lebanon describe how living on aid is "eating us up inside" |
| Syrian refugees in Lebanon describe how living on aid is "eating us up inside" | Syrian refugees in Lebanon describe how living on aid is "eating us up inside" |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Middle East | Middle East |
| Lebanon | Lebanon |
| Fatah | Fatah |