Key Events
Lebanon forces besiege Palestinian refugee camp (20 May 2007)
The three months of fighting in the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon between the Lebanese army and the non-Palestinian militant group Fatah al-Islam concluded in early September. However, Palestinian residents of the camp are reporting that after the fighting their homes were systematically looted and burned. Much of the destroyed camp still remains off-limits to anyone except the Lebanese army. (Added 22 May 2007)

The Lebanese army still controls all movement in and out of the camp through sometimes hostile checkpoints and journalists and photography and video equipment remain barred from the camp. Amnesty International has called for an investigation into the looting and burning in the camp, where some families are living despite the near total devastation during the months of fighting and the wanton destruction by the army afterwards. Returning refugees complain that promises by governmental, UN and other international agencies have been unmet and there is no assistance coming into the camp.

In the worst internal violence since the end of Lebanon's bloody civil war 17 years ago, fighting between the Lebanese army and the shadowy militant group Fatah al-Islam has claimed the lives of more than 400 people, including more than 40 Palestinian civilians, 178 soldiers and 222 Fatah al-Islam militants. On 20 May, Lebanese security forces reportedly raided a Tripoli building to arrest bank robbery suspects, which was followed by an attack by Fatah al-Islam militants on Lebanese army installations at the entrance to Nahr al-Bared camp.

While fighting flared up in the north of Lebanon, a car bomb attack in Beirut killed one on 20 May, followed by another bombing in the capital the next day. Nahr al-Bared refugee camp's more than 30,000 residents (who mostly originate from the northern Galilee region of historic Palestine and were forced out or fled during the establishment of the state of Israel) were under siege and caught in the cross-fire as Lebanese forces pledged to flush out Fatah al-Islam. All civilians were eventually forced to flee the violence in the camp.

Emergency and humanitarian workers reported difficulties in reaching affected civilians, and were fired upon by combatants. As a shaky ceasefire mostly held the night of 22 May, thousands of camp residents fled, telling of the deaths of many civilians who have not yet been recovered. Protests have erupted at Palestinian refugee camps across Lebanon, where 400,000 Palestinian refugees make up 10 percent of the country's population -- over half of whom live in impoverished, overcrowded refugee camps.



Abuse of Palestinians
  • Video: The looting of Nahr al-Bared, Ray Smith (5 November 2007)

  • Open letter to PM Siniora, Tamara Keblaoui (30 October 2007)

  • "Everything they couldn't take they destroyed, Maureen Clare Murphy (26 October 2007)

  • Nahr al-Bared was destroyed, but who noticed? Michael Birmingham (25 October 2007)

  • Illegal discrimination against Palestinians in Lebanon, IRIN (18 October 2007)

  • Ready to return with nothing, Matthew Cassel writing from Baddawi Refugee Camp (11 September 2007)
  • "Army torturing Palestinian refugees", Anand Gopal and Saseen Kawzally (14 August 2007)

  • Lebanese army fires on nonviolent demonstration, kills two, Rania Masri (29 June 2007)

  • Collective punishment of Palestinian civilians in Lebanon, Sophie McNeill (22 June 2007)

  • "They see us all as criminals", Caoimhe Butterly writing from Baddawi Refugee Camp (22 June 2007)

  • Call for probe into Palestinian abuse claims, IRIN (20 June 2007)

  • Letter from a Palestinian Camp, Dr. Marcy Newman (18 June 2007)

  • Rights group: End abuse of Palestinians fleeing refugee camp, Human Rights Watch (13 June 2007)

  • Three Flat Tires, Dr. Marcy Newman writing from Beirut (6 June 2007)


    • Opinion & Analysis
  • Nahr al-Bared was destroyed, but who noticed? Michael Birmingham (25 October 2007)

  • What's next for Nahr al-Bared, Jamal Ghosn (6 September 2007)
  • Hamas flag goes up in Lebanon camps , Anand Gopal (5 September 2007)
  • Rival Islamist groups vie for control of refugee camp, IRIN (6 August 2007)
  • Lebanon's bloody summer, Nisrine Abiad and Victor Kattan (23 July 2007)
  • Cheering to the beat of the Palestinians' misery, Sami Hermez (25 May 2007)
  • Interview: As'ad Abukhalil on the Nahr al-Bared siege, Ali Abunimah (24 May 2007)
  • What is happening in Lebanon?, Laurie King-Irani (22 May 2007)
  • Violence Highlights Regional Polarisation, Ellen Massey (22 May 2007)


    Diaries
  • Open letter to PM Siniora, Tamara Keblaoui (30 October 2007)

  • "Everything they couldn't take they destroyed, Maureen Clare Murphy (26 October 2007)

  • Ready to return with nothing, Matthew Cassel writing from Baddawi Refugee Camp (11 September 2007)
  • Refugees, again, Dina Awad and Matthew Cassel writing from Baddawi Refugee Camp (13 August 2007)
  • Dreaming of Nahr al-Bared, Dr. Marcy Newman writing from Beirut, Lebanon (4 August 2007)
  • A confined space, Dr. Marcy Newman writing from Beirut, Lebanon (19 July 2007)
  • "They see us all as criminals", Caoimhe Butterly writing from Baddawi Refugee Camp (22 June 2007)
  • Letter from a Palestinian Camp, Dr. Marcy Newman (18 June 2007)
  • Three Flat Tires, Dr. Marcy Newman writing from Beirut (6 June 2007)
  • Where do I stand?, Rania Masri writing from Beirut (6 June 2007)
  • Interview: "There are more than 20 dead in our neighborhood", Sari Chreih and Razan Al-Ghazzawi writing from Lebanon (6 June 2007)
  • To be Palestinian in Lebanon is to be wished a thousand deaths, Sami Hermez writing from Baddawi Refugee Camp (2 June 2007)
  • Whose Truth?, Dr. Marcy Newman writing from Beirut (2 June 2007)
  • "They won't let me be at peace, even in my dreams", Nadine Kotob writing from Beddawi Refugee Camp (29 May 2007)
  • Reporting from the front: Interviews with PLO spokesman in Lebanon and PFLP official (Part 1), Jackson Allers and Rasha Moumneh writing from Baddawi Refugee Camp (28 May 2007)
  • Reporting from the front: Interviews with PLO spokesman in Lebanon and PFLP official (Part 2), Jackson Allers and Rasha Moumneh writing from Baddawi Refugee Camp (28 May 2007)
  • "Another Waco in the Making", Franklin Lamb writing from Bedawi Refugee Camp (28 May 2007)
  • Solidarity in Shatila, Mayssoun Sukarieh writing from Shatila Refugee Camp (26 May 2007)
  • "They may accept us for a day or two but for how long?, Rania Masri and Jackson Allers writing from Bedaoui refugee camp (25 May 2007)
  • "The situation is very bad", Jackson Allers and Rania Masri writing from Lebanon (23 May 2007)
  • Lebanese bloggers react to refugee camp siege, Moussa Bachir writing from Beirut (22 May 2007)



    Action and Activism
  • Die-in at Lebanese army checkpoint at Nahr al-Bared entrance, Dr. Marcy Newman (4 June 2007)
  • Seventy-two hours, Dr. Marcy Newman (28 May 2007)
  • Nahr al-Bared Flees to Beirut, Dr. Marcy Newman (26 May 2007)
  • Aid for Nahr al-Bared, Nahr al-Bared Relief Campaign (25 May 2007)


    Humanitarian Consequences and Aid
  • Mahr al-Bared refugees still in limbo, IRIN (29 October 2007)

  • Palestinains return to desolate, dangerous camp, IRIN (12 October 2007)

  • Nahr al-Bared residents flee ahead of expected final assault, IRIN (11 July 2007)
  • Deminers urge patience as Palestinians restless for return, IRIN (4 July 2007)
  • Challenges of returning refugees to destroyed camp, IRIN (22 June 2007)
  • UNICEF estimates 20,000 children affected by conflict in camp, IRIN (12 June 2007)
  • One in three Lebanese wants to leave, IRIN (11 June 2007)
  • Unexploded ordnance hampering aid deliveries to refugees, IRIN (7 June 2007)
  • UNRWA appeals for $12.7m as camp clashes spread south, IRIN (4 June 2007)
  • Refugee Resentment Simmers as Fighting Escalates, Jackson Allers (4 June 2007)
  • Three-day bombardment of camp cuts off vital aid supplies to terrified residents, IRIN (3 June 2007)
  • Heavy Nahr al-Bared fighting continues; UN to vote on Hariri tribunal, IRIN (30 May 2007)
  • Nahr al-Bared is a ghost town, smelling of death, IRIN (28 May 2007)
  • Chronic disease sufferers in refugee camps urgently need medication, IRIN (28 May 2007)
  • Lebanese Army imposes restrictions on coverage of camp siege, Committee to Protect Journalists (26 May 2007)
  • "On the way to the hospital I realised that my mother had died", IRIN (24 May 2007)
  • 30,000 Caught in Crossfire, Jackson Allers (24 May 2007)
  • Thousands flee fighting as army accused of shelling relief convoy, Electronic Lebanon (23 May 2007)
  • Human Rights Watch: Fighting at Refugee Camp Kills Civilians, Human Rights Watch (23 May 2007)
  • Crisis deepens as relief still not reaching besieged Palestinians, IRIN (22 May 2007)
  • More than 100 dead and injured at Nahr Al-Bared camp, Ma'an News Agency (22 May 2007)
  • Fierce clashes continue at Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, Ma'an News Agency (21 May 2007)


    Multimedia
  • Video: The looting of Nahr al-Bared, Ray Smith (5 November 2007)

  • Video: Nahr al-Bared refugees' joyless Ramadan, a-films (12 October 2007)



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  • BY TOPIC: Palestinian Refugees Under Attack


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