NEW YORK: In the wake of the armed hostilities that unfolded between July 30 and August 3 at Ein El-Hilweh, a Palestinian refugee camp situated in southern Lebanon, the distressing conditions faced by the camp’s residents have once again come into focus.
The violence, and its subsequent aftermath, have compelled international attention to the dire circumstances that have long plagued the lives of those residing in the camp.
Dorothy Klaus, the Director of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), conveyed the profound impact of the recent hostilities on the camp’s inhabitants, urging an immediate and sustained effort to provide aid and support. A disheartening 400 homes were demolished during the clashes, leading hundreds of families to become displaced either within the camp or in nearby areas. Additionally, crucial infrastructure within the camp suffered significant damage, including a UNRWA school complex that serves over 3,000 children. Access to certain parts of the camp remains challenging for the agency due to the lingering effects of the conflict.
Ein El-Hilweh stands as the largest among the twelve refugee camps established in Lebanon in 1948, following the formation of Israel. Historically, a 1969 agreement between Lebanese authorities and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has kept the Lebanese army largely absent from the camps.
Nevertheless, the recent clashes between rival armed factions in Ein El-Hilweh, which resulted in the loss of at least 11 lives and left dozens injured, have prompted some Lebanese officials to advocate for military intervention within the camps. The history of Ein El-Hilweh reveals a turbulent pattern of violence over the years, encompassing internal conflicts and confrontations between Palestinian groups and Lebanese forces.
Klaus explained that post-violence, UNRWA has managed to restore essential services to around half of the camp. Garbage collection, disinfection, and debris removal have commenced in those areas. However, Klaus painted a sombre portrait of the emotional toll the conflict has exacted on the residents, recounting stories of traumatized children and women whose hair turned white due to the extreme stress of the hostilities.
The accumulated trauma faced by Palestinian refugee communities is deeply interwoven with decades of displacement and strife. Inhabitants of refugee camps, including Ain El-Helweh, have repeatedly endured episodes of violence and property destruction, leading to entrenched psychological scars.
This traumatic background has contributed to alarmingly elevated rates of non-communicable diseases among refugees, a consequence of the severe stress they experience. The complex interplay between camp residents and the communities surrounding them adds an extra layer of intricacy to the situation. The hostilities in the camps can inflict adverse consequences on nearby regions, as illustrated by economic setbacks experienced by Saida, a city grappling with losses during the recent violence, compounded by a challenging economic climate.
All these dynamics unfold against the backdrop of Lebanon’s ongoing economic crisis, which has persisted for four years. This crisis has witnessed the national currency losing a staggering 98 percent of its value, accompanied by a 40 percent decline in the GDP and triple-digit inflation. Around two-thirds of the central bank’s foreign currency reserves have been depleted. The resulting impact has pushed a significant portion of the population into poverty.
The IMF has highlighted entrenched interests within the country that obstruct essential economic and political reforms, worsening the financial crisis. This environment of fragility compounds the complexities faced by Palestinian refugees, whose access to employment opportunities and basic services is already restricted.
Klaus underscored how the refugees, already grappling with poverty, have been further marginalized by the economic turmoil. About 80 percent of them now live in impoverished conditions. In comparison to pre-crisis times, the poverty rate among Palestinians in Lebanon has more than doubled, making their ability to sustain themselves and their families a formidable challenge.
The ongoing struggle of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon remains a pressing concern, one that demands concerted international attention and collaborative efforts to alleviate their hardships and provide them with a more dignified future.
